Two Iranian female footballers who sought asylum in Australia following this year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup will speak publicly about their decision on 60 Minutes.
Tonight’s episode sees Tara Brown sit down with Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, who reveal the threats they faced over their decision to remain in Australia, their escape from their Iranian handlers and their new lives in the country.
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THE SOUND OF SILENCE
It was a courageous act of defiance against one of the most brutal and evil regimes in the world. Last March, at the women’s Asian Football Cup held in Australia, the Iranian team refused to sing their national anthem before their first game.
Their silence sent a very noisy message to Iran’s ruthless leadership that they were standing in solidarity with tens of thousands of their fellow citizens who had been killed, either gunned down during government demonstrations or subsequently executed, simply for opposing the regime.
But as heroic as the team’s anthem protest was, it put the safety of these brave young women at such risk the Australian government stepped in. Under the direction of Immigration Minister Tony Burke, the players were offered humanitarian visas, allowing them to remain in Australia.
Seven members of the team sought asylum, but after enormous pressure from Iran, only two women stood firm. Now, six months on, those two players, Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, have chosen to speak to 60 Minutes.
In incredibly candid and emotional interviews they tell Tara Brown about the threats they faced if they didn’t return to Iran, the cloak-and-dagger operation to escape their Iranian handlers, and their remarkable – and very exciting – new lives in Australia.
Reported by Tara Brown and produced by Anne Worthington.
