Members of Iran’s women’s national football team were greeted with a welcome ceremony upon their return to the Islamic Republic this Thursday, after several players sought asylum in Australia.
“First of all, we are very happy to be in Iran, because Iran is our homeland,” said midfielder Fatemeh Shaban.
Upon the team’s arrival, a crowd waved flags, while some players held bouquets of flowers and signed what appeared to be mini soccer balls. The Iranian press had reported that the team would return on Wednesday.
“I didn’t expect so many people to come and welcome us, and I’m happy to be a daughter of Iran,” Shaban said.
Two Iranian players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, have chosen to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.
Others, who initially requested asylum after the team was eliminated from the Women’s Asian Cup, later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.
The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the start of the war in Iran on 28 February. The team initially gained worldwide attention when some players remained silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first Asian Cup game. The silence was interpreted as an act of resistance or protest by some commentators and as a show of mourning by others.
The players did not publicly reveal the decision or explain it and sang the national anthem before the next two games.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week rejected suggestions that women would not be safe if they returned home, saying the country “welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their safety.”
Seven members of the delegation began by requesting asylum in Australia last week, requests that were a source of embarrassment for Iranian leaders, and praised by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, before five of the seven players ended up changing their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari.
Activists accused Iranian authorities of pressuring the women’s families – including summoning the parents for interrogation – but Tehran in turn alleged Australia tried to force the athletes to defect.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said last week that the Government spent several days in secret negotiations with the players, who were taken to a safe location after leaving their Gold Coast hotel on the night the seven decided to seek asylum.
Upon returning to Tehran, the team made a long journey, passing through Malaysia, Oman and then Istanbul and entering Iran through the Gurbulak-Bazargan land border crossing, between Turkey and Iran.
Iranian news agency Mehr published images of a small welcome party on the Iranian side of the border, as well as staff and entourage sitting on a stage with a red carpet.
“We have all gathered here to congratulate them and express our appreciation,” said the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, according to press reports. “Despite being women, they demonstrated courage and strength worthy of a man,” he added.
Iranian authorities organized a larger welcome ceremony this Thursday in Valiasr Square, in Tehran, where other pro-government demonstrations have taken place in recent weeks, according to Iranian media.
Human rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad, threatening family members with the seizure of assets if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic.
Lusa
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