Iran Womens Football Team Sing National Anthem Amid Safety Concerns During War

Iranian Women’s Football Team Sings National Anthem in Final Match

The Iranian women’s football team sang their national anthem before their final match against the Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium in Australia on Sunday. The team, who had previously remained silent during the anthem due to concerns for their families’ safety in Iran, broke their silence with a rendition of Mehr-e Khavaran (Eastern Sun). This decision came six days after they were criticized for not singing along to the anthem in their previous match against South Korea.

The Iranian team’s participation in the Women’s Asian Cup has been met with concern from human rights activists in Australia. The team had initially chosen not to sing the national anthem, sparking fears that they may have been coerced by government minders. A petition launched on Friday calling for Australia to provide refuge to the team had gathered over 51,000 signatures by Sunday.

The Iranian team played their final match against the Philippines and lost 2-0. Their campaign in the tournament ended after this loss. The team’s decision to sing the national anthem has been seen as a significant moment, with Australian players swapping shirts with their Iranian opponents before the match.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong was asked about the prospect of the team returning to Iran during an interview on Sunday. She stated that it had been “moving” for Australians to see the team in Australia and highlighted the solidarity shown by the sport. The US and Israel continued their strikes on Iran, with the conflict widening to include the Gulf region and other countries.

The players union FIFPRO had called on the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA to uphold human rights obligations and ensure player safety.

Source: Al Jazeera