FIVE members of the Iranian women’s football team who refused to sing the national anthem have fled into hiding in Australia amid fears over their safety.
The by the regime after staging their protest ahead of their Asia Cup game against on ‘s Gold Coast last Monday.
Iranian footballers refused to sing the national anthem in a brave show of defianceCredit: Getty Images
The team were forced to sing the anthem and salute during their last two games, a source saidCredit: AFP
Five members of the team have now fled into hidingCredit: AFP
A commentator on Iranian state TV said the players’ decision to stand in silence on the pitch was the “pinnacle of dishonour”.
Adding: “Traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely.”
As fears mount over their fate, five of the stars have now fled the team’s hotel.
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s ousted shah, said he has been told players – Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi – are in a “safe location”.
There have been growing calls to block the teams return to Iran over fears of persecution, as their homeunder .
The team were forced to sing the anthem and salute before their second match on Thursday and on Sunday, sources told CNN .
After the loss in their final match of the tournament, supporters crowded around the team bus shouting “save our girls” as it pulled away.
More than 66,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Australian government to ensure the player do not leave “while credible fears for their safety remain”.
Global players’ union FIFPRO said it was unable to contact the players to discuss whether they would like to seek asylum in Australia.
Beau Busch, FIFPRO president for Asia and Oceania, said: “The reality at the moment is that we’re unable to get in touch with the players.
“That’s incredibly concerning. That’s not a new thing. That’s really been since the repression really dialled up in February, January.”
Thousands of Iranian for standing up against their cruel government.
Security forces in the state launched a bloody crack down on protests, firing live ammunition at crowds.
Footballer Zahra Azadpour, 27, was among those slaughtered by the bloodthirsty Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The star played for Iranian Women’s League team Mehregan Pardis and had joined training camps with the national team.
The demonstrations sparked which has now descended into an all-out conflict in the Middle East.
Women in Iran have faced deadly backlash in the past for their protests.
The death of plunged the Islamic Republic into disrepute after the young girl was allegedly beaten, arrested and left in a coma by the .
She was reportedly attacked for not following the country’s strict hijab laws.
It comes as the US and continue to hit hard after killing the country’s supreme tyrant in operation Epic Fury.
The blitz that took out the Ayatollah last weekend kicked off ten days of intense bombardment, with the rogue nation wreaking its revenge by targeting US bases across the Middle East.
Iranian Women’s League footballer Zahra Azadpour was shot dead for her protestCredit: X.COM
More than 33000 protesters were slaughtered by the state in JanuaryCredit: AFP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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