#news The Capt. of the Iranian Women’s soccer team has withdrawn her asylum application after members of her family have gone ‘missing’
Zahra Ghanbari, the 34-year-old is the fifth member of the team to withdraw their asylum claims after reports of family members getting arrested or going missing – at the hands of Iranian authorities.
The announcement was made by Iran’s state run news.
Ghanbari wanted to claim asylum with 6 other members of the team over fears that they would be beaten or k*lled when they got back home, for not singing the Iranian national anthem during the games.
IRNA’s (state run TV) said her decision was a ‘voluntary’ return “to the embrace of the homeland”
Australian officials confirmed the withdrawal but didn’t say anything else out of a respect for privacy.
Exiled Iranians, and human rights experts, say this is an example of how the ayatollahs use family members and threats of violence and death to force compliance.
Ghanbari’s decision means only two of the original seven asylum seekers are left in Australia.*****
The players who have returned include:
Zahra Soltan Meshkekkar, a technical staff member who reportedly relayed messages from Iranian football authorities urging the team to abandon their plans.
Mona Hamoudi, a midfielder whose family was allegedly contacted by IRGC intelligence.
Zahra Sarbali, another player who cited family safety concerns in her decision.
An unnamed backroom staffer, bringing the total returns to five including Ghanbari.
