Iranian Women’s National Team Returns Home Under Threat of Death Penalty — Only Five Remain in Australia

 Iranian Women’s National Team Returns Home Under Threat of Death Penalty — Only Five Remain in Australia

The Australian government offered asylum to the Iranian women’s national football team, but only five players accepted the proposal. The rest of the delegation returned to Iran, where they may face the death penalty for refusing to sing the national anthem before a match in the Asian Cup.

This is a very serious and sensitive situation. The report highlights both the political risks faced by athletes in Iran and the limited uptake of asylum offers abroad.