Trump Lobbying Helps Five Iranian Female Footballers Secure Australian Visas
Five members of the Iranian women's national football team have finally been granted political asylum on Australian soil. The Australian government announced on Tuesday morning that they would be granted humanitarian visas after they escaped from a hotel on the Gold Coast, Queensland, on Monday night.
The captain of the Iranian women's football team, Zohra Ganbari, is also on the list. Australia's mainstream media and social media have been buzzing about the incident since early this morning.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the granting of humanitarian visas to the five Iranian female footballers at a press conference at Brisbane Airport in Queensland on Tuesday morning.
Tony Burke said at the press conference, "After all the official procedures were completed last night, there was a joyful atmosphere there. Everyone was taking pictures and spontaneously chanting slogans in favor of Australia.
The five footballers who were granted asylum are captain Zahra Ganbari, her teammates Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi. They are currently under the strict protection of the Australian Federal Police. The players themselves have given their permission for their names and identities to be released.
The Australian Home Affairs Minister said that the government had been holding secret talks with the players for several days.
Tony Burke said, “These women are very talented athletes and wonderful people. Australia is their home from now on.”
Offering asylum to the remaining 15 members of the team, Tony Burke said, “Our doors are open to everyone. However, for personal reasons or considering the safety of their families, not everyone may take this opportunity. Whatever the decision, we stand by them.’
At around 7 am local time today, the Australian Home Affairs Minister posted a message on his verified Facebook page with a picture. There, he wrote, ‘Last night I was able to tell the five members of the Iranian women’s football team that they are welcome in Australia. They will be safe here and this is their home now.’
According to Australian media reports, the turn of events took a turn when US President Donald Trump directly intervened in the Iranian women’s football players’ case. On Monday night, he posted on social media, putting strong pressure on Australia to shelter these women’s football players.
After Trump’s post, he had a direct telephone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. After the conversation, Trump wrote on his own ‘Truth Social’ platform, ‘Prime Minister Albanese is looking into the matter. Arrangements have already been made for five, the rest are on their way.’
The incident began around the opening match of the Asian Cup. In that match, these players did not sing the Iranian national anthem. For this reason, these footballers were referred to as ‘traitors’ in their own country. In this situation, the female footballers risked severe punishment if they returned to Iran.
Last Sunday night, these players were seen making an international ‘help wanted’ signal with their hands from the team bus. Seeing that signal, human rights activists were mainly active in rescuing them.
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