Five members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team have reportedly left their team hotel in Australia and are seeking asylum, according to exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi and local reporting. President Donald Trump has also urged Australia to give them asylum and added that if they won't the US will.
The players disappeared from their hotel on the Gold Coast after Iran’s elimination from the Asian Cup tournament. Sources in the Iranian-Australian community told the Sydney Morning Herald that the women broke away from the team and its handlers Monday night and were later taken somewhere safe.
Brisbane-based human rights activist Hadi Karimi told the newspaper, “Police have taken them somewhere safe. It's great, it's amazing.”
President Donald Trump commented on the matter, warning that the women could be killed for their protest and defection and said the US would accept them if the Australian government chooses not to: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t..." he posted to Truth Social.
Pahlavi’s office said in a post on social media that five players had sought asylum after leaving the team. The statement named the athletes and said they had aligned themselves with a movement opposing Iran’s Islamic Republic.
"These five courageous athletes, currently in a safe location, have announced that they have joined Iran's national Lion and Sun Revolution," the post from Pahlavi's office added, referencing the pre-1979 Iranian flag.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs did not immediately respond to CBS News' requests for confirmation that the players had formally applied for asylum.
The development comes after controversy surrounding the team earlier in the tournament. Before their opening match against South Korea, Iranian players declined to sing or salute the national anthem. Iranian state television later labeled them “traitors” and accused them of “the pinnacle of dishonor.”
In their next two matches, the team did sing and salute the anthem. Alireza Mohebbi, a correspondent in Australia for the opposition Iran International news network, told Australian broadcaster ABC that the gesture likely came under pressure.
"It's completely obvious that the Islamic Republic's regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing the anthem," he said. "In the first match with South Korea they didn't do it, but now with all the pressure and media spreading the news around the world, it's completely obvious the regime pushed them not just to sing the anthem but to do the military salute. There is no doubt."
After Iran was eliminated from the tournament Sunday, a crowd of roughly 200 supporters gathered outside the stadium on the Gold Coast as the team bus departed. According to The Guardian, fans carrying pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flags surrounded the bus chanting “let them go” and striking the vehicle.
Police eventually moved the crowd aside after about 15 minutes so the bus could leave. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Monday she would not “get into commentary” about the players’ situation.
Human rights advocates have warned the athletes could face consequences if they return to Iran. Former Australian national team captain Craig Foster told the BBC, “We all have very reasonable and serious concerns for their safety.”
The players disappeared from their hotel on the Gold Coast after Iran’s elimination from the Asian Cup tournament. Sources in the Iranian-Australian community told the Sydney Morning Herald that the women broke away from the team and its handlers Monday night and were later taken somewhere safe.
Brisbane-based human rights activist Hadi Karimi told the newspaper, “Police have taken them somewhere safe. It's great, it's amazing.”
President Donald Trump commented on the matter, warning that the women could be killed for their protest and defection and said the US would accept them if the Australian government chooses not to: “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t..." he posted to Truth Social.
Pahlavi’s office said in a post on social media that five players had sought asylum after leaving the team. The statement named the athletes and said they had aligned themselves with a movement opposing Iran’s Islamic Republic.
"These five courageous athletes, currently in a safe location, have announced that they have joined Iran's national Lion and Sun Revolution," the post from Pahlavi's office added, referencing the pre-1979 Iranian flag.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs did not immediately respond to CBS News' requests for confirmation that the players had formally applied for asylum.
The development comes after controversy surrounding the team earlier in the tournament. Before their opening match against South Korea, Iranian players declined to sing or salute the national anthem. Iranian state television later labeled them “traitors” and accused them of “the pinnacle of dishonor.”
In their next two matches, the team did sing and salute the anthem. Alireza Mohebbi, a correspondent in Australia for the opposition Iran International news network, told Australian broadcaster ABC that the gesture likely came under pressure.
"It's completely obvious that the Islamic Republic's regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing the anthem," he said. "In the first match with South Korea they didn't do it, but now with all the pressure and media spreading the news around the world, it's completely obvious the regime pushed them not just to sing the anthem but to do the military salute. There is no doubt."
After Iran was eliminated from the tournament Sunday, a crowd of roughly 200 supporters gathered outside the stadium on the Gold Coast as the team bus departed. According to The Guardian, fans carrying pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flags surrounded the bus chanting “let them go” and striking the vehicle.
Police eventually moved the crowd aside after about 15 minutes so the bus could leave. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Monday she would not “get into commentary” about the players’ situation.
Human rights advocates have warned the athletes could face consequences if they return to Iran. Former Australian national team captain Craig Foster told the BBC, “We all have very reasonable and serious concerns for their safety.”
