GOLD COAST.- The president of USA, donald trumpsaid on Monday that Australia agreed to grant asylum to some members of the women’s soccer team of Iranhours after Reza Pahlavison of the last shah of the nation, asked to guarantee the safety of the soccer players.
“I just spoke to the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iran women’s national football team. He’s taking care of it! Five have already been taken care of,” Trump said on his Truth Social network, less than two hours after a first publication in which he urged Australia to welcome them.
Trump added that “some, however, feel they must return (to Iran) because they are concerned about the safety of their families, including possible attacks on those family members if they do not return.”
The US president’s announcement comes hours after Pahlavi urged Australia to guarantee the safety of the Iranian women’s soccer team, which refused to sing the national anthem before a match. Asia Cup which is disputed on Australian territory.
The 26 members of the Iranian delegation arrived in the country a few days before the start of the US-Israeli bombings that caused the death of the supreme leader, the Ayatollah. Ali Khamenei.
Soccer players threatened
“Members of the Iranian women’s national football team are suffering strong pressure and are being threatened by the Islamic Republic“, wrote in X the son of the overthrown shah (king).
“They risk serious consequences if they return to Iran. I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and provide them with all necessary support,” he added.
Pahlavi thus joined a growing number of people, including activists and political figures, calling for Australia to grant asylum to the players.
JK Rowling’s Call
For example, the British writer JK Rowlingauthor of the saga harry potterwrote on his social networks: “Protect those girls!”
The players remained silent as the Iranian anthem played before their first match of the tournament. Then they sang it in the following meetings.
This attitude was interpreted as an act of rebellion and a state television presenter described the players as “traitors in time of war” who represented “the ultimate disgrace.”
Outside the Gold Coast stadium in eastern Australia, where the team played its final game this weekend, a crowd gathered chanting “regime change for Iran,” “let them go” and “save our girls.”
When consulted by AFP, the Australian Home Affairs Ministry said it “could not comment on individual situations.”
According to Zaki HaidariAmnesty International activist, the soccer players run the risk of being persecuted if they are returned to their country.
“It is likely that some members of the team have already seen their families threatened,” he added to AFP.
When consulted, the Iranian embassy in Australia has not responded.
The Iranians debuted in the Asian Cup in 2022 in India and became national heroines in a country where women’s rights are severely restricted.
