Iran Presses Female Soccer Players to Return with Threats and Rewards
Iranian officials have promised female footballers returning from Malaysia "princess" treatment and rewards as a key part of their last-ditch rescue effort to bring them home, according to statements made by team members outside the Hyatt Place hotel in Kuala Lumpur on March 13. This assurance comes after activists launched urgent campaigns following reports that families were threatened with harm if they refused government pressure for immediate repatriation and phones had been seized from players who flew into Malaysia earlier this week while still en route to Australia last Tuesday.
Key Points
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1Iranian female footballers have been promised rewards and treated like princesses by officials upon their expected return to Iran.
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2Activists from Australia, Malaysia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy are making a last-ditch effort for the players' safety as they face government pressure in Kuala Lumpur.
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3The Iranian embassy confirmed that remaining squad members arrived safely at KLIA and stated there is no fear of returning home despite family warnings against it.
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4Return to Iran depends on flight availability once airspace restrictions have been lifted, with officials noting all athletes are currently healthy.
Developments
Perspectives
Iranian soccer officials have promised rewards and treated their female footballers like princesses to encourage them to return home from Malaysia.
— 'Treated like princess': Iranian soccer player says they will be rewarded on return (Theage.com.au)Activists are making a last-ditch effort in Kuala Lumpur because fears for the players' safety have grown, noting that phones were seized and families threatened them into staying away.
— Phones seized, families threatened: The bid to save Iran's female footballers (Abc.net.au)The Iranian government is pressuring its own male officials who are in Malaysia with the players for a return home as their family members warn against it and fear they will be treated badly.
— Iranian football players face government pressure to return to Iran, as families warn against it (Jpost)'They want to go back,' said one player who was in Malaysia with the team. The embassy told Bernama that 'they are expected' and they will be flown home.
— "Remaining members of Iranian women's football squad arrive" - FreemalaysiatodayAn Iranian soccer player told protesters that officials have promised rewards and safe treatment upon their return following allegations they were manipulated into skipping national anthem performances. The athlete dismissed concerns about safety or family risks, citing international attention as protection while noting she was individually offered the chance to stay in Australia if desired by teammates who led her away from security at hotels where protests occurred.
Activists are mounting an urgent rescue effort for seven Iranian female footballers currently held without passports or legal rights by Malaysia's government. Despite initial assurances from Iran that they would be safe, fears have grown after one player changed her mind and returned to Tehran while others face a forced journey back through Turkey under uncertain conditions following their refusal to sing the national anthem in Australia earlier this week.