Iranian Women's Soccer Player Defects to Australia; Iran Decries "Hostage-Taking"

One more member of Iran's women's national soccer team has joined the defection after five players who remained silent during the national anthem at an international match sought asylum in Australia. Iran has pushed back, accusing Australia of kidnapping the players.

According to Reuters on May 11 (local time), Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that two additional members of the Iranian national team—one player and one staff member—have expressed their intention to defect. The player was identified as 21-year-old forward Mohadese Zolfi, and the staff member as Zahra Soltan Moshkehkar. However, hours after the announcement, one of the two reversed their decision. It was not disclosed which of the two chose to return to Iran.

Minister Burke said all remaining members of the Iranian team were given the opportunity to meet individually with Australian officials without security escorts at Sydney International Airport before departure, allowing them to voluntarily decide whether to seek asylum. He added that some team members spoke with family in Iran during this process but ultimately declined the asylum offer and departed. Responding to suggestions that Australia should have prevented the team's departure, Burke countered: "Australia's goal was not to force any particular decision. That's not the kind of country we are."

The Iranian team drew condemnation from Iranian state media as "wartime traitors" after remaining silent during the national anthem at a Women's Asian Cup match against South Korea on May 2. In their subsequent two matches, all players saluted and sang the anthem. On May 10, five players including team captain Zahra Ghanbari requested protection from the Australian government. Australia transferred them to a secure location, and following a meeting with Minister Burke, granted them humanitarian visas. The visas allow them to stay in Australia for 12 months and apply for permanent residency.

In response, Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, told state media: "Unfortunately, according to information we have received, Australian police directly intervened after the match and took one or two players from the hotel." Referring to mass casualties at a girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, following airstrikes launched by the United States and Israel, he said: "They martyred 160 of our girls in Minab, and in this case too, they are holding our girls hostage."

Iran's Prosecutor General's office said in a statement broadcast by state media: "Some sincere members of the national team acted unintentionally under the influence of emotional incitement stemming from enemy conspiracies and malice. We advise them to return to their homeland with peace of mind and confidence."