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In a dramatic turn of events, five members of Iran’s women’s football team have sought refuge by escaping from their entourage at a hotel on the Gold Coast. This bold move has caught international attention, with none other than US President Donald Trump adding his voice to calls for Australia to offer asylum to the entire team.
Currently under the protection of local authorities, the women have expressed fears of severe repercussions if they were to return to Iran. They have been accused of treason for their refusal to sing the national anthem at the Asian Cup held in Queensland, a stance that could endanger their lives upon returning home.
President Trump has been vocal about the situation, stating that Australia would be making “a terrible humanitarian mistake” should the women be sent back to Iran, where he believes they face grave danger. He urged Australia’s Prime Minister to grant them asylum, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
In an early morning post on Truth Social, Trump implored, “Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM.” He further assured that if Australia is unwilling to act, the United States is prepared to welcome the athletes. He concluded with a note of gratitude for the attention given to this pressing issue.
“The US will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
His comments came shortly after the five women broke free and it wasn’t clear if he was informed of that development.
Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment.
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi is monitoring the developments on the Gold Coast.
Pahlavi, who lives in the US and is seen by a large number of Iranians as the rightful leader as opposed to the Islamic dictatorship that took power in 1979, thanked Trump for his message urging Albanese to act.
Pahlavi’s office said the “five courageous athletes” who had escaped were in a safe location and “have announced that they have joined Iran’s national Lion and Sun Revolution”, the opposition group with Pahlavi at its head.
‘I cried, this is amazing, amazing news’
Whilst only five of the team’s players had been able to escape, it was hoped more would join them, Iranian Society of Queensland vice president Hadi Karimi told 9news.com.au.
“It was amazing, mate,” Karimi said after it emerged that the five women were free.
“I cried, this is amazing, amazing news.”
Karimi could not say how the five women had escaped from their hotel last night but it was hoped more of the players would be able to join them in the coming hours.
The five who were being protected by police were Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi, Karimi said.
“[They] have left the team’s training camp and successfully sought refuge in Australia,” he said in a post on Instagram.
“These five courageous athletes, currently in a safe location, have announced that they have joined Iran’s national Lion and Sun Revolution.”
Karimi said a group of volunteers would remain at the hotel throughout the night, ready to help if any other of the players managed to leave.
Concerns had grown for the footballers since Sunday night when it was claimed at least one of the women made “a sign for help” as the team bus left Gold Coast Stadium after their Asian Cup campaign ended.
More than 50,000 people have signed a petition urging the Australian government to step in.
Earlier on Monday, Professional Footballers Australia boss Beau Busch said efforts to speak to Iranian players had been in vain.
“The reality at the moment is that we’re unable to get in touch with the players,” Busch told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“That’s incredibly concerning, that’s not a new thing, that’s really been since the repression really dialled up in this – sort of February, January etc.
“So we’re really concerned about the players, but our responsibility right now is to do everything within our power to try and make sure that they’re safe.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong would not comment at the weekend on the specific cases of the women seeking asylum.
“We know this regime has brutally murdered many of its own people. We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women and we stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran and particularly Iranian women and girls,” she said.
“I don’t want to get into commentary about the Iranian women’s team.”