2 More Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Seek Asylum in Australia

Two more members of Iran's women's soccer delegation, an athlete and a support staff member, have sought asylum in Australia, bringing the total to seven. These individuals chose not to return to Iran following their participation in a tournament. The decision to seek asylum follows an incident where the Iranian state media criticized the women's team, labeling them as traitors for allegedly not singing the national anthem. Five other members of the delegation had previously been granted visas to remain in Australia. The specific reasons for seeking asylum have not been publicly disclosed, but the incident with the national anthem and the subsequent media backlash likely contributed to their decision.