The Iranian women’s soccer team decided a week ago to remain silent during the singing of their national anthem before their match, their first game at this year’s Asian Cup. In the matches they have played since then, they have already sung and saluted during the national anthem, but because of their performance last Monday, the team is under attack, and it is feared that they would have to face severe retaliation if they return to Iran. Many believe that Australia, which hosts the championship, should protect women.
Iran is under attack, but the regime that oppresses women is still functional, and a new leader was elected on Sunday. In the war that has been going on for more than a week, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei was quickly assassinated, and less than 48 hours later, the women’s national team played for the first time in the Asian Cup. Standing on the pitch, the players apparently did not sing Iran’s current national anthem. Iranian state media began sharply criticizing the team, with one commentator close to the regime calling them traitors and saying they should be dealt with more severely.
The women’s team lost 2-0 to the Philippines on Sunday, so they have to say goodbye to the cup. After the match, Iranian fans surrounded the team bus trying to leave, voicing their support and concern. Several of the fans showed hand signals indicating abuse, which some of the athletes on the bus reciprocated. Several supporters chanted: “Let them go!” So far, it has not been decided whether the team will return to Iran, but the decision may be made soon.
Some say Australia should protect athletes under threat. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran living in exile in the US, called on the Australian government to ensure the safety of women and give them all the support they need in a post. The head of Australia’s asylum commission, Paul Power, said there was clear evidence members of the women’s soccer team would be at risk in Iran after returning home, and an Iranian journalist working in Germany said their lives could be at risk.
According to human rights experts speaking to the Guardian, Australia has an obligation to protect the athletes, as the country is obliged to do so by the refugee convention ratified in the 1950s. Under this, the government must protect the players from returning to Iran because they are at risk of persecution there. For this, soccer players would have to apply for asylum, but according to experts, Iranian women may not be able to do this because they are likely to be watched and checked.
