Two members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia in March have been granted citizenship. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were sworn in as Australian citizens at a ceremony in Brisbane.
Friends and supporters from the local Iranian community attended the ceremony. Ramezanisadeh stated in a press release that she felt proud and grateful to become an Australian citizen, emphasizing that Australia offered her the opportunity to build her life and future. Pasandideh described the day as one of the happiest of her life, expressing pride and gratitude for becoming an official Australian citizen, noting the significance of the moment after facing challenges.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s department declined to comment on the specific reasons for the expedited citizenship, citing privacy regulations. Typically, refugees must reside in Australia on a valid visa for four years before applying for citizenship, according to the Refugee Council of Australia. It is possible that their citizenship was fast-tracked to make them eligible to play soccer for Australia.
The two players joined Brisbane Roar, a team in Australia’s A-League Women’s domestic competition, after being granted asylum. This occurred when Iran withdrew from the Women’s Asia Cup, which Australia was hosting. They were part of a group of seven Iranian women who initially sought asylum, but five later decided to return to the team for undisclosed reasons.
The team had arrived in Australia before the United States and Iran engaged in conflict in February. Concerns were raised about the players' welfare in Iran after they did not sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match of the tournament. Protesters advocating for the team's asylum highlighted comments from Iranian sports commentator Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, who reportedly referred to the women as "wartime traitors" on television. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously used social media to call for the team to be granted asylum and had spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the matter.