Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian soccer players on Tuesday after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for refusing to sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match.
Australians were touched by the fate of these brave women, said the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a news conference in Canberra on Tuesday, a day after police helped free the women from their Iranian state handlers.
They are here safe and should feel at homehe said.
President of the United States of America Donald Trump he praised Albanese for allowing the players to stay, saying on social media that the US was ready to take the players if Australia did not.
Australian officials identified the players as Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Ghanbari, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh. They are located at undisclosed location under police protection, officials said.
Albanese added that it was help available to other players who are currently in Australia with the Iranian national team, but that it is up to them to decide whether to accept it.
Television footage showed several other Iranian players leaving a hotel in the northeastern city of Gold Coast by bus on Tuesday afternoon.
Home Secretary Tony Burke posted photos on his X account of himself posing with the five players after granting them visas.
He said the government had held secret talks with the players for days, but admitted that running away was a difficult decision for them.
(Fena | Photo: X)
