Home Affairs Minister confirms one of seven athletes who sought sanctuary reversed her decision after being encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy.
SYDNEY: An Iranian women’s football team member who initially sought asylum in Australia has withdrawn her application after speaking with teammates who returned home, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The player was among seven members of Iran’s visiting women’s squad who applied for protection in Australia. The group faced harsh criticism in Iran, being branded “traitors” following a pre-match protest.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told parliament that one of the individuals had a change of heart after communicating with colleagues who had departed for Kuala Lumpur.
“She had spoken to some of the teammates that left and changed her mind,” Burke said. “She had been advised by her teammates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy. As a result, the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”
Authorities have since moved the remaining asylum seekers from their original safe house to an undisclosed location for their security.
The development follows emotional scenes at Sydney Airport on Tuesday evening, where one player and a support staff member broke from the delegation and sought sanctuary. They joined five other athletes who had already lodged asylum claims.
There were concerns that male chaperones accompanying the team might attempt to block others from defecting. Burke stressed that Australian officials ensured each player was given private time at the airport to make an independent decision, free from coercion.
“We made sure this was her decision,” Burke said, referring to the athlete who reversed her claim.
The rest of the Iranian squad has since flown out of Sydney and arrived in Malaysia early Wednesday morning, according to AFP photographers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
