Iranian women soccer players claiming asylum in Australia have been evacuated from their safe house after one team member changed her mind and revealed their location to the Iranian embassy.
Seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s football delegation were granted asylum in Australia after they were branded “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.
But one member of the group had second thoughts after speaking to other players who had turned down asylum in favor of returning to Iran, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
The woman exposed the location of the other asylum seekers when she contacted Iran’s embassy in Australia.
Iranian media, including the Shargh newspaper and Mehr news agency, identified the player who withdrew her asylum request as Mohaddeseh Zolfi.
“As a result of that it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was,” Burke said. “I immediately gave them instructions for people to be moved and that has been dealt with immediately.”
Australian officials had “made sure this was her decision,” Burke said.
Burke added that each player was separated from the squad at Sydney Airport and given time to mull the offer in private.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lauded the bravery of the women, vowing they would be welcomed with open arms.
But Iran’s governing football body has accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to forsake their home nation against their will.
