The Albanese government is being called upon to protect the members of Iran’s women’s national football team during their stay in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, after the team’s refusal to sing the national anthem last week prompted an Iranian presenter to mark the women as “traitors”.
A petition is urging Australian authorities to ensure the players’ safety and that none of them depart Australia “while credible fears for their safety remain.”
During last Monday’s opening match of the Asian Cup in the Gold Coast, Iran’s women’s football team declined to sing their national anthem in what was deemed a powerful display of resistance against the Islamic Republic regime. A few days later, the players were seen singing the anthem and saluting before their second match against Australia. It was alleged that they were instructed to do so by the regime.
After their loss, a conservative presenter on the state-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting network described the women’s actions as “the height of shamelessness and betrayal”, and labelled them as “traitors”, inciting fears the regime may arrest the women upon their return to Iran.
“The public denunciation of these athletes by state-controlled media is deeply alarming,” the petition stated.
“For Iranian women in particular, visibility is dangerous when it is read by the regime as dissent. The players are not simply visiting athletes. They are women under the authority of a barbaric authoritarian state that has a long record of punishing perceived disobedience, including through intimidation, coercion, torture and reprisals against family members.”
The petition suggests that credible reporting has raised concerns that regime-connected personnel believed to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are embedded within the team’s delegation and that players’ movements and communications are being restricted.
“The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal and a “traitor”,” the petition explained. Under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, corruption and treason are seen as national security offenses that carry the death penalty, and the women could face severe retribution for their actions.
Since 28 February, Israeli and US strikes on the country have killed over a thousand civilians, including over three hundred children.
“The risks will be especially acute if they are compelled to return while this climate of war, surveillance, and political retaliation continues,” the petition explained. “Reporting has also indicated that seeking asylum may be extraordinarily difficult for many because of fears for relatives in Iran.”
The petition, launched by Australian Iranian Council, call on the Government to provide confidential protection pathways and ensure that players “not be let to go back into danger because they displayed conscience, dignity, or fear in public view.”
“They deserve safety, due process, and the genuine opportunity to decide their futures free from intimidation. Australia is hosting this tournament. That carries not only logistical responsibilities, but moral ones.The Australian Government has both the capacity and the responsibility to ensure that these women are protected while on our soil.”
The petition, addressed to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, has now garnered almost 58,000 signatures.
Former Australian soccer player Craig Foster urged football’s governing bodies including FIFA and tournament organiser the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to protect the players.
“If any player feels unsafe for any reason, whether in camp or following, they are entitled to make this clear to the AFC and FIFA, who must immediately secure their safety,” he told SBS.
“The Australian government should ensure that no players are forced to leave against their wishes or will, and provide all opportunities to be satisfied this is not the case.”
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong failed to confirm any contact between the government and members of the Iranian team, but emphasised that Australia stood in solidarity with them.
“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia and the Matildas swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” she told ABC’s Insiders program.
“The Matildas swapping jerseys with them was, I think, a very evocative moment that spoke to solidarity and the way sport can bring us together.”
“We know this regime has brutally murdered many of its people. We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women, and we stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran particularly Iranian women and girls.”
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek was similarly evasive about the situation, saying that the “very delicate situation” prompted her to not speculate about the case.
“For years now we have been saying that the brave women and girls of Iran who have been out on the streets protesting, asking for the most basic rights, deserve our support and respect protesting against an authoritarian, autocratic government that has murdered tens of thousands of its own citizens – they are so brave,” she told Sunrise.
Meanwhile, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said that no sporting team would be given “preferential treatment” in terms of visas coming to Australia.
“They must meet all of the conditions for the visa and that includes a security check and a health check,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“So, there’ll be no special circumstances granted to anyone that’s competing in the Asian Women’s Cup. The normal rules that apply to visa grants in Australia, including those important security checks, will apply.”
Opposition frontbencher Julian Leeser responded to Thistlethwaite’s comments, saying that given the severity of threats, members of the Iranian team should be offered asylum should they seek it.
“We know that in recent days serious threats have been made against the courageous Iranian women’s soccer team who are currently playing in Australia,” he said in a statement marking International Women’s Day.
“The Australian government should not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”
On Sunday night, a supporter of Iranian women’s soccer team reported seeing a member of the team make the international call sign for help as the team bus left the stadium on the Gold Coast.
“There is a clear video of one of them doing the help sign. People’s life are in danger,” the supporter told news.com.au. “There were threats to their family in Iran. They are super scared. Some of them were crying on the bus as we were chasing the bus and trying to stop it and don’t let them go.”