Iranian footballers' courage highlights Tehran regime's brutality
A silent act of protest by Iranian footballers prompted fears for their lives
When members of Iranian women's football team failed to sing the national anthem ahead of an Asian Cup game in Australia last week, they found themselves denounced as “traitors” on state television, prompting fears for their lives.
They subsequently sang the anthem at two other games but, with no sign this had placated the Iranian authorities, hundreds of fans chanted “save our girls” on Sunday in a direct appeal to the Australian government to grant them asylum. Even Donald Trump joined in, saying that if Australia did not take them in, the US would, and five players were later given humanitarian visas by the Canberra government.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong told broadcaster ABC that “we stand in solidarity with the men and women of Iran”, adding that: “Obviously this is a regime that has brutally cracked down on its people.”
The footballers’ silent but courageous act of protest has highlighted just how brittle and savage the tyrants running their country really are. It is also a reminder to the US and all those involved in airstrikes that many ordinary Iranians are just as opposed to the Mullahs as they are and that civilian casualties must be kept to a minimum.
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