{"id":1816259,"date":"2026-03-09T15:15:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816259"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:15:16","slug":"womens-uprising-in-iran-a-struggle-in-exile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1816259","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Uprising In Iran – A Struggle in Exile"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76280756_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A3cw<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
After staying silent during their first match, Iran’s players have since saluted and sung the anthem in their last twoImage: Str\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

What is the latest on the Iran women’s football team?<\/h2>\n

After their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday in Australia, the Iran<\/a> team bus was surrounded by hundreds of protesters chanting “save our girls.”\u00a0The players onboard were reportedly seen making SOS signs and photographing those outside. The bus went\u00a0back to the team hotel on the Gold Coast but\u00a0on Monday, there are\u00a0widespread reports that five players escaped the hotel.<\/p>\n

“Our understanding is that the players are currently staying in a hotel under heavy monitoring,” Zaki Haidari, on the scene for Amnesty International, told DW moments before the first reports of escape emerged.<\/p>\n

“Their communications appear to be restricted, which has made it very difficult for human rights organizations, human rights lawyers and the media to make contact with them.”<\/p>\n

FIFPRO Asia\/Oceania, the union that represents players in the region, also say they have not been able to contact the Iranian players, with the organization’s president, Beau Busch, saying this was “incredibly concerning.”<\/p>\n

The worries\u00a0come\u00a0after the players faced criticism for failing to sing\u00a0the national anthem in their opening match against South Korea last week. They went on to sing the anthem and salute\u00a0in their last two\u00a0group-stage games. Most observers put the change down to pressure on the players from the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

The scenes of public support on Sunday are indicative of hopes in Australia and beyond that the players, coaches and support staff may be able to stay in the country\u00a0rather than returning to Iran. But with the players unable to speak publicly, it’s unclear what they, individually or collectively,\u00a0want.<\/p>\n

After the match, Iran team manager Marziyeh Jafari said: “we are impatiently waiting to return. Personally\u00a0I would like to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family.”<\/p>\n

But human rights organizations\u00a0say\u00a0it’s entirely possible that this is what she had to\u00a0say in the situation.<\/p>\n

Are the Iran women’s team in real danger?<\/h2>\n

They also say\u00a0that those seen to oppose the supreme leader, now\u00a0the slain Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba<\/a>, can expect serious reprisals, with women being\u00a0in particular danger.<\/p>\n

“We are deeply concerned for their safety if they return to Iran,” Haidari said.\u00a0“They have been labeled ‘wartime traitors’\u00a0on national television<\/a> simply for peacefully expressing their views. In Iran, that kind of public accusation can expose people to serious punishment by the Iranian authorities.”<\/p>\n

The case of Navid Afkari<\/a>, \u00a0one of Iran’s highest-ranked wrestlers, who \u00a0was executed in 2020\u00a0after being convicted of what many believe to be trumped up charges of murdering a security guard during anti-establishment protests, is one warning\u00a0for the Iran squad. Many athletes were reportedly also killed in\u00a0protests earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\n

Women\u2019s Uprising In Iran – A Struggle in Exile<\/h2>\n

Reza Pahlavi, \u00a0the exiled former crown prince of Iran<\/a> who enjoys the support of some Iranians outside of the country, shared his fears on X.<\/p>\n

“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,”\u00a0he wrote.<\/p>\n

Could the Iran women’s\u00a0team stay in Australia?<\/h2>\n

There is no easy answer\u00a0but Haidari said Amnesty International are “calling on the Australian government to ensure the players have the opportunity to seek asylum if they wish to do so… Australia is a signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention<\/a> and has an obligation to protect people who fear persecution in their home country.”<\/p>\n

The Australian government has so far expressed\u00a0support without committing to a course of action.<\/p>\n

“We stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran, and particularly Iranian women and girls,” Australian\u00a0Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the country’s national broadcaster ABC on Sunday, ahead of the team’s third match.<\/p>\n

“Obviously this is a regime that has brutally cracked down on its people.”<\/p>\n

The opposition Liberal party’s shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, called on the Labor government of Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide asylum to those players who want it, and “not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”<\/p>\n

Busch, from FIFPRO, said that \u00a0the Australian government, FIFA<\/a> and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) should “ensure that every bit of pressure is applied”\u00a0to protect the players’ human rights.<\/p>\n

But with the players’ positions, and in some cases whereabouts, unclear, it’s a tangled knot.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s important to remember the enormous pressure the players\u00a0are under. Their country is at war, they are worried about their families, and they are facing pressure from Iranian authorities because of their peaceful protest. Despite this, they have shown remarkable courage and have received strong support from the Australian community,”\u00a0Haidari said.<\/p>\n

The Asian Cup<\/a> \u00a0continues without Iran but what happens to the eliminated team has become the most important story of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Chuck Penfold<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

\n

What is the latest on the Iran women’s football team?<\/h2>\n

After their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday in Australia, the Iran<\/a> team bus was surrounded by hundreds of protesters chanting “save our girls.”\u00a0The players onboard were reportedly seen making SOS signs and photographing those outside. The bus went\u00a0back to the team hotel on the Gold Coast but\u00a0on Monday, there are\u00a0widespread reports that five players escaped the hotel.<\/p>\n

“Our understanding is that the players are currently staying in a hotel under heavy monitoring,” Zaki Haidari, on the scene for Amnesty International, told DW moments before the first reports of escape emerged.<\/p>\n

“Their communications appear to be restricted, which has made it very difficult for human rights organizations, human rights lawyers and the media to make contact with them.”<\/p>\n

FIFPRO Asia\/Oceania, the union that represents players in the region, also say they have not been able to contact the Iranian players, with the organization’s president, Beau Busch, saying this was “incredibly concerning.”<\/p>\n

The worries\u00a0come\u00a0after the players faced criticism for failing to sing\u00a0the national anthem in their opening match against South Korea last week. They went on to sing the anthem and salute\u00a0in their last two\u00a0group-stage games. Most observers put the change down to pressure on the players from the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

The scenes of public support on Sunday are indicative of hopes in Australia and beyond that the players, coaches and support staff may be able to stay in the country\u00a0rather than returning to Iran. But with the players unable to speak publicly, it’s unclear what they, individually or collectively,\u00a0want.<\/p>\n

After the match, Iran team manager Marziyeh Jafari said: “we are impatiently waiting to return. Personally\u00a0I would like to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family.”<\/p>\n

But human rights organizations\u00a0say\u00a0it’s entirely possible that this is what she had to\u00a0say in the situation.<\/p>\n

Are the Iran women’s team in real danger?<\/h2>\n

They also say\u00a0that those seen to oppose the supreme leader, now\u00a0the slain Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba<\/a>, can expect serious reprisals, with women being\u00a0in particular danger.<\/p>\n

“We are deeply concerned for their safety if they return to Iran,” Haidari said.\u00a0“They have been labeled ‘wartime traitors’\u00a0on national television<\/a> simply for peacefully expressing their views. In Iran, that kind of public accusation can expose people to serious punishment by the Iranian authorities.”<\/p>\n

The case of Navid Afkari<\/a>, \u00a0one of Iran’s highest-ranked wrestlers, who \u00a0was executed in 2020\u00a0after being convicted of what many believe to be trumped up charges of murdering a security guard during anti-establishment protests, is one warning\u00a0for the Iran squad. Many athletes were reportedly also killed in\u00a0protests earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\n

Women\u2019s Uprising In Iran – A Struggle in Exile<\/h2>\n

Reza Pahlavi, \u00a0the exiled former crown prince of Iran<\/a> who enjoys the support of some Iranians outside of the country, shared his fears on X.<\/p>\n

“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,”\u00a0he wrote.<\/p>\n

Could the Iran women’s\u00a0team stay in Australia?<\/h2>\n

There is no easy answer\u00a0but Haidari said Amnesty International are “calling on the Australian government to ensure the players have the opportunity to seek asylum if they wish to do so… Australia is a signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention<\/a> and has an obligation to protect people who fear persecution in their home country.”<\/p>\n

The Australian government has so far expressed\u00a0support without committing to a course of action.<\/p>\n

“We stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran, and particularly Iranian women and girls,” Australian\u00a0Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the country’s national broadcaster ABC on Sunday, ahead of the team’s third match.<\/p>\n

“Obviously this is a regime that has brutally cracked down on its people.”<\/p>\n

The opposition Liberal party’s shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, called on the Labor government of Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide asylum to those players who want it, and “not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”<\/p>\n

Busch, from FIFPRO, said that \u00a0the Australian government, FIFA<\/a> and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) should “ensure that every bit of pressure is applied”\u00a0to protect the players’ human rights.<\/p>\n

But with the players’ positions, and in some cases whereabouts, unclear, it’s a tangled knot.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s important to remember the enormous pressure the players\u00a0are under. Their country is at war, they are worried about their families, and they are facing pressure from Iranian authorities because of their peaceful protest. Despite this, they have shown remarkable courage and have received strong support from the Australian community,”\u00a0Haidari said.<\/p>\n

The Asian Cup<\/a> \u00a0continues without Iran but what happens to the eliminated team has become the most important story of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Chuck Penfold<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

After their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday in Australia, the Iran<\/a> team bus was surrounded by hundreds of protesters chanting “save our girls.”\u00a0The players onboard were reportedly seen making SOS signs and photographing those outside. The bus went\u00a0back to the team hotel on the Gold Coast but\u00a0on Monday, there are\u00a0widespread reports that five players escaped the hotel.<\/p>\n

“Our understanding is that the players are currently staying in a hotel under heavy monitoring,” Zaki Haidari, on the scene for Amnesty International, told DW moments before the first reports of escape emerged.<\/p>\n

“Their communications appear to be restricted, which has made it very difficult for human rights organizations, human rights lawyers and the media to make contact with them.”<\/p>\n

FIFPRO Asia\/Oceania, the union that represents players in the region, also say they have not been able to contact the Iranian players, with the organization’s president, Beau Busch, saying this was “incredibly concerning.”<\/p>\n

The worries\u00a0come\u00a0after the players faced criticism for failing to sing\u00a0the national anthem in their opening match against South Korea last week. They went on to sing the anthem and salute\u00a0in their last two\u00a0group-stage games. Most observers put the change down to pressure on the players from the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

The scenes of public support on Sunday are indicative of hopes in Australia and beyond that the players, coaches and support staff may be able to stay in the country\u00a0rather than returning to Iran. But with the players unable to speak publicly, it’s unclear what they, individually or collectively,\u00a0want.<\/p>\n

After the match, Iran team manager Marziyeh Jafari said: “we are impatiently waiting to return. Personally\u00a0I would like to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family.”<\/p>\n

But human rights organizations\u00a0say\u00a0it’s entirely possible that this is what she had to\u00a0say in the situation.<\/p>\n

They also say\u00a0that those seen to oppose the supreme leader, now\u00a0the slain Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba<\/a>, can expect serious reprisals, with women being\u00a0in particular danger.<\/p>\n

“We are deeply concerned for their safety if they return to Iran,” Haidari said.\u00a0“They have been labeled ‘wartime traitors’\u00a0on national television<\/a> simply for peacefully expressing their views. In Iran, that kind of public accusation can expose people to serious punishment by the Iranian authorities.”<\/p>\n

The case of Navid Afkari<\/a>, \u00a0one of Iran’s highest-ranked wrestlers, who \u00a0was executed in 2020\u00a0after being convicted of what many believe to be trumped up charges of murdering a security guard during anti-establishment protests, is one warning\u00a0for the Iran squad. Many athletes were reportedly also killed in\u00a0protests earlier this year.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Reza Pahlavi, \u00a0the exiled former crown prince of Iran<\/a> who enjoys the support of some Iranians outside of the country, shared his fears on X.<\/p>\n

“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,”\u00a0he wrote.<\/p>\n

There is no easy answer\u00a0but Haidari said Amnesty International are “calling on the Australian government to ensure the players have the opportunity to seek asylum if they wish to do so… Australia is a signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention<\/a> and has an obligation to protect people who fear persecution in their home country.”<\/p>\n

The Australian government has so far expressed\u00a0support without committing to a course of action.<\/p>\n

“We stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran, and particularly Iranian women and girls,” Australian\u00a0Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the country’s national broadcaster ABC on Sunday, ahead of the team’s third match.<\/p>\n

“Obviously this is a regime that has brutally cracked down on its people.”<\/p>\n

The opposition Liberal party’s shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, called on the Labor government of Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide asylum to those players who want it, and “not turn a blind eye to the danger these women face.”<\/p>\n

Busch, from FIFPRO, said that \u00a0the Australian government, FIFA<\/a> and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) should “ensure that every bit of pressure is applied”\u00a0to protect the players’ human rights.<\/p>\n

But with the players’ positions, and in some cases whereabouts, unclear, it’s a tangled knot.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s important to remember the enormous pressure the players\u00a0are under. Their country is at war, they are worried about their families, and they are facing pressure from Iranian authorities because of their peaceful protest. Despite this, they have shown remarkable courage and have received strong support from the Australian community,”\u00a0Haidari said.<\/p>\n

The Asian Cup<\/a> \u00a0continues without Iran but what happens to the eliminated team has become the most important story of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Edited by: Chuck Penfold<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/fears-grow-for-irans-womens-football-team\/a-76278906″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76280756_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5A3cw After staying silent during their first match, Iran’s players have since saluted and sung the anthem in their last twoImage: Str\/AFP What is the latest on the Iran women’s football team? After their Asian Cup campaign ended on Sunday in Australia, the Iran team bus was surrounded by hundreds of protesters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1816259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1816259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1816259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1816259\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1816259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1816259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1816259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}