Two members of the Iranian women's national soccer team have been granted asylum and citizenship in Australia. This was reported by infohub.kz.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in at a citizenship ceremony in Brisbane. Friends and supporters from the local Iranian community attended the ceremony.
Ramezanisadeh said: "Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen. Australia has given me the opportunity to build my life and my future, and I feel, more than ever, that I belong here." She added that her Iranian roots and memories would always be part of her.
Pasandideh called Wednesday "one of the happiest days of my life." "I'm incredibly proud and grateful to officially become an Australian citizen. After everything we've been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express," she said.
When the Associated Press asked Burke's office why the women's citizenship was fast-tracked, his department said it could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons. The Refugee Council of Australia noted that refugees usually must live in Australia for four years before applying for citizenship.
Their citizenship could potentially have been fast-tracked under Australian law to make them eligible to play soccer for Australia. The Iranians joined Brisbane Roar, a team in Australia's elite women's league, after they were granted asylum when Iran dropped out of the Women's Asia Cup held in Australia.
Initially, seven Iranian women accepted asylum, but five changed their minds within days and returned to the team for undisclosed reasons. The team had arrived in Australia before the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
Concerns for the team's welfare were raised when players declined to sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match. Protesters demanding asylum for the team widely cited Iranian sports commentator Mohammad Reza Shahbazi calling the women "wartime traitors" on television. U.S. President Donald Trump called on social media for the team to be granted asylum and telephoned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the issue.