Two former Iranian footballers who sought asylum in Australia have revealed they are focused on rebuilding their lives, but claimed they are not yet ready to share their experiences, after several of their teammates refused to join them.
Fatemah Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh had arrived in Australia in late February as part of Iran’s women’s national football team to compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup tournament.
But fears were sparked for their safety after the athletes refused to sing Iran’s national anthem on live television and were branded wartime “traitors” by Iranian state media after the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran.
Before their scheduled departure, seven members of the delegation were offered humanitarian visas by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
Ultimately, all but Ms Pasandideh and Ms Ramezanisadeh chose to return home.
On Friday, the two players released a joint statement thanking the federal government for its efforts.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian Government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country,” the statement read.
“The compassion and support shown to us during this challenging time has provided us with hope for a future where we can live and compete in safety.”
They also thanked the “dedicated” Home Affairs officials for their support over the last few weeks, and paid tribute to the kindness of Iranian-Australians.
“We are overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of the Iranian diaspora community in Australia,” the statement read.
“Your support has made us feel welcome and less alone as we navigate this transition.
“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives.
“We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”
But the pair ended their statement by highlighting they were not comfortable sharing anything further about their settlement in Australia.
“We respectfully ask the media for privacy and space at this time. We will not be making any further comments or conducting interviews in the immediate future.”
