 "Australia asylum drama deepens: Iran women’s captain Zahra Ghanbari leaves amid claims of pressure")
Australia asylum drama deepens: Iran women’s captain Zahra Ghanbari leaves amid claims of pressure
Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari has become the latest footballer to make a U-turn on the asylum provided in Australia. Critics have claimed that the footballers are being pressurised by Iranian government.
Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women’s football/soccer team, has become the latest to withdraw the claim of asylum as she left Australia on Sunday night. The confirmation of Ghanbari leaving Australia came on Monday from the office of Australian Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke.
Zahra Ghanbari is the fifth member of the Iranian footballers and support staff
who were granted asylum by Australia after the Asian Cup. The asylum was granted to seven members of the Iranian women’s football team, including a support staff.
Iranian state news agency IRNA has also confirmed that Ghanbari has joined fellow players in Malaysia.
Iran’s Zahra Ghanbari leaves Australia
Burke had said on Sunday that players were given options after they informed Australian officials about leaving the country.
“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” he said.
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Shiva Amini, a former Iranian national futsal team player and human rights activist, has said that players are leaving Australia due to fear of their families being targeted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“However, a number of the players are still there. They are under enormous pressure and they urgently need support and protection,” she said.
Amini also claimed that a team official “who presented themselves to the players as someone they could trust and rely on, was able to persuade some of the players to return”.
Australia started granting asylum to Iranian players after pressure from US President Donald Trump. And reports suggest that Iran worked overtime to get their players back due to the involvement of Trump. The country wants to present it as a diplomatic victory for Iran over the USA.
The Iranian players who have sought asylum in other countries without Trump’s support have not faced similar pressure to return to the country.
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