Five Iranian women's soccer players granted humanitarian visas in Australia

SYDNEY, Mar 10: Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asia Cup match.

"Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference in Canberra on Tuesday, a day after police had helped extract the women from their Iranian government handlers.
"They're safe here, and they should feel at home here."

U.S. President Donald Trump praised Albanese for allowing the women to stay, saying on social media the U.S. was ready to take the players if Australia did not.

Australian officials identified the players as Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Ghanbari, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh. They were staying at an undisclosed location under police protection, officials said.    �"REUTERS