Waking up to the news that five members of the Iranian women’s football team had been granted asylum was welcome today, and provided what feels like an increasingly rare amount of good news on the plight of women globally.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the announcement at a press conference this morning, saying the humanitarian visas were signed at 1:30am, creating a moments of “joy and relief”.
He also thanked the Opposition and the media for showing “restraint” in their reporting on the issue, implying that there has been significant work going on behind the scenes to try and protect the women.
And he touched on the impossible choices the entire women’s team face: choices that no woman should ever have to deal with in terms of leaving everything they know back home, to find safety and freedom in another country.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of questions regarding whether Trump’s intervention on the issue and phone call to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had made any difference at all.
We first learnt about the protections for the women when Trump declared on Truth Social that five of the women’s soccer team had been “taken care of” and that “the rest are on their way” with Australia’s PM “on it”.
Just two hours earlier, Trump had posted that Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the team to be “forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”
He said that “the U.S will take them if you won’t.”
Trump’s pleas stand in contrast to previous actions, including deporting planeloads of people back to Iran, even during the violent crackdown on anti-government protests that occurred in January.
But both Burke and Albanese were quick to suggest that securing these visas for the women was already well underway prior to Trump’s social media posts.
Albanese told a press conference in Australia today that Trump called him “just before 2am”, and that the visa had been finalised just before Trump took to social media to report the five players would be granted asylum.
Albanese said, “We had a very positive discussion,” and that he was able to share with Trump the actions taken “over the previous 48 hours” to support the team. He said he told Trump that five of the team had requested assistance and they had received it and were safe.
“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Albanese said.
He added that Australia is “willing to provide assistance to other women in the team”, noting that this is a very delicate situation, and it is up to them.
“We say to them, if you want our help, help is here, and we will provide that.”
Concerns for the safety of the women followed their AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, with several team members refusing to sing the national anthem in their opening game against South Korea. They were later branded as “traitors” on Iranaian state media, which raised urgent fears that the team and their families would be at great risk if they returned to Iran.
Meanwhile, a number of people came out to support the women at their hotel and alongside the bus that was transporting them.
A petition urging Australian authorities to ensure the players’ safety and that none of them departs Australia “while credible fears for their safety remain” had captured more than 75,000 signatures as of this morning.
The NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner has also called for an urgent investigation into what could happen to the team if they are returned to Iran, noting anti-slavery conventions in place.
Speaking with media this morning, Burke declared that “a lot of work” had been going on behind the scenes to give the women the choice to stay in Australia.
He said they had been moved to a safe location by Federal police and that he personally met them on Monday night, with the process finalised in the very early hours of Tuesday.
“Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts,” he said.
Five team members had made it clear they wanted to stay in Australia, Burke said.
“These women are tremendously popular in Australia. We realise they are in a terrible position with the decisions they are making.
“There were lots of photos. Lots of celebrating. And a spontaneous outbreak of Aussie Oi Oi Oi.”
Burke later posted photos to Instagram of the moment the visas were signed, alongside the five women who received the visas.
Amnesty International Australia’s Zaki Haidari said they welcomed and hoped the government continues to protect those with well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.
“We thank the Australian public and international supporters who have shown solidarity with the Iranian women’s soccer team, offering their support and advocating for them to be welcomed and allowed to remain in Australia.
“We celebrate the courage of these women and commend their bravery in peacefully speaking out for their rights.”
Australia must now embrace these five players, ensure the rest of the team have also have the option, and continune to offer support to others seeking protection as this war continues.