Three more members of Iran‘s women’s national football team who originally sought asylum in Australia have abruptly reversed course and chosen to return to Iran.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the development on Sunday morning, revealing the players told Australian officials they no longer wished to stay.
‘Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,’ Burke said in a statement.
‘After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options.’
Iran’s Sports Ministry publicly welcomed the development, echoing reporting from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency, which first broke the news.
‘The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women’s national football team defeated the enemy’s plans against this team,’ the Ministry said, accusing the Australian government of ‘playing in Trump’s field.’
Tasnim reported the three players were en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they would rejoin the rest of the squad before returning to Iran.
The outlet said the athletes were going back to the ‘warm embrace of their families and homeland’ after withdrawing their asylum claims.
Zahra Meshkinkar, Mona Hamoudi and Zahra Sarbali (pictured) have returned to Iran
The Iranian women’s football team faced fury from their regime at home after refusing to sing the national anthem before an Asian Cup clash on the Gold Coast
It also insisted the women had resisted ‘psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers’ while in Australia.
The dramatic turnaround follows a similar case earlier in the week, when one of the defecting players contacted the Iranian embassy and announced she also intended to go home.
Of the seven players who initially sought asylum after competing in the Asian Cup in Australia, only three now remain in the country.
According to Iranian diaspora human-rights activists, the trio who have withdrawn their asylum applications are Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali.
Ms Hamoudi and Ms Sarbali were both part of the dramatic escape at a Gold Coast hotel last Monday.
The pair slipped away from team minders before being taken to a safe house by Australian Federal Police, in what was initially seen as a bold break for freedom.
Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, a member of the team’s technical staff, joined them the following day when she also sought asylum.
Another woman, Mohaddeseh Zolfi, made the same request, but reversed her decision within hours of being granted the right to stay and is now believed to have already rejoined the squad.
Most of the team members flew home to Iran through Kuala Lumpur (pictured) this week
One commentator on Iranian state television escalated tensions further, branding the players ‘wartime traitors’ and demanding severe punishment.
Activists fear the players who have decided to return to Iran could face reprisals once they land back home, despite officials in Tehran insisting the women will be received ‘with peace and confidence.’
One member of the squad tried to calm fears during a brief exchange with protesters in Malaysia, saying they were returning of their own accord and claiming Iranian officials had assured them they would be treated ‘like princesses’ when they arrived back in the country.
