- President Donald Trump has offered asylum to the Iranian women's football team, citing fears for their safety if they return to Iran.
- Concerns for the team's well-being arose after they refused to sing Iran's national anthem before a match, an act interpreted as a silent protest. Iranian state television reportedly branded the players “traitors” for their defiance, leading to warnings of repercussions upon their return.
- “Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM,” Trump wrote Monday. “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
- Activists and the Australian Iranian Council urged the Australian government to protect the squad, with an online petition supporting their safety. Australia's foreign minister acknowledged the brutal crackdown in Iran but deferred asylum decisions to the home affairs minister.
- After his initial post, Trump wrote in an update Monday, “I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team. He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return.”
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