"Six players and one staff member are staying in Australia after accepting humanitarian visas offered by the Australian government. Another player initially accepted Australia's asylum offer but changed her mind at the last minute. The team was offered asylum after some players remained silent during the Iranian national anthem before their opening match a gesture that led Iranian state television to call them "wartime traitors.""
"Members of the Iranian women's national football team landed in Malaysia on Wednesday after their Asian Cup elimination and are awaiting a flight home as Iran's airspace remains closed amid US and Israeli strikes. They were received in Kuala Lumpur by Iran's ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi, and are staying in a hotel while travel plans are finalized."
"Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the team members who chose to stay would not face a legal battle for permanent residency and would receive health, housing, and other support in Australia."
The Iranian women's national football team was eliminated from the Asian Cup and divided geographically. Most players landed in Malaysia and await flights home as Iran's airspace remains closed due to US and Israeli strikes. Six players and one staff member accepted humanitarian visas in Australia after remaining silent during the Iranian national anthem at their opening match, an act that prompted Iranian state television to label them "wartime traitors." Fearing persecution upon return, these individuals chose to stay in Australia with government support for health, housing, and other services. Iran's foreign ministry urged them to return home, while some team members were reportedly denied visas due to alleged ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Read at www.dw.com
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