‘I’ve been in the same position as the Iranian women’s team. My heart goes out to them’

I had to go into exile in 2011 because my life was under great threat in Afghanistan due to my activism with the women’s national football team. I was no longer safe in my country. I had to leave and go through the whole process of asylum like every other refugee does, which was difficult because I was not evacuated or directly supported by a government.

But when I helped evacuate the Afghanistan women’s national football team after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, I saw how the Australian government got on board and helped them. The government of Australia showed great leadership in how they welcomed them. The women didn’t have to go through the typical asylum process, which was expedited for them. Now that is what they are trying to do with the Iranian women’s national team players who sought asylum.

When I watched them refusing to sing the national anthem in their first game at the Asian Cup, my heart dropped. It has been a very confusing time. We did a joint demonstration in the diaspora for the women of Afghanistan and for the women of Iran when Ali Khamenei was killed last month. It was a moment of celebration knowing that the leader was taken down. But at the same time the whole war escalated, and his death did not mean the fall of the government. It was the fall of one leader. It is not about the leader, it is about the ideology. Getting rid of the government in Iran will be very difficult.

When those footballers refused to sing before their game against South Korea, I recognised women who have lived under oppression for many years. They have seen the government murder fellow players. It was a moment where the team tried to stand up for their human right of not supporting the government. That was a natural thing to do. But at the same time, it comes with consequences.

When you live under an oppressive regime like the one in Iran, the families are always the most under threat. The players usually have a high profile. That happened to me. When I escaped from Afghanistan, they went after my family, and even my close friends – they were displaced internally. The Iranian regime is also very dangerous. They see standing against the government as a betrayal, and that there should be punishment. That is what makes me worried for the lives of the players and their families as well.

When I stood up against the sexual abuse of the president of the Afghan Football Federation, he forced players to talk to the media in his favour. He frightened their families. They sent people to Denmark, where I am living, to my address. It shows how much power they have. This is exactly what Iran is capable of doing as well.

My heart goes out to all these players. They are in the toughest position. First of all, they are under the control of the federation. I have been in training camps with the Iranian women’s national team and their players were always so scared and nervous.

I can see myself standing there thinking as a player, what will happen if I sought asylum? It will be my life that will be saved in Australia but then the life of my family will be in even greater danger. There is no guarantee of their safety.

For the women who sought asylum, it said a lot that the first thing these five players did was take their hijabs off. This was never a choice for them before. So this is life changing, but it comes with its own challenges.

I’m grateful for the government of Australia for the way they have stood up and shown leadership by protecting our Afghan players, providing a home for them and supporting them. They have been continuously using their voices in Australia for the women of Afghanistan and now for the women of Iran.

I have not seen anything from football. I have not seen anything from the Asian Football Confederation. I have not seen anything from Fifa. That’s where I’m a bit concerned.

These players were in Australia. They have their rights as human beings there. If they feel danger, they shouldn’t have to escape out the back door of a hotel.

The Women’s Asian Cup is the Asian Football Confederation’s tournament. It is the responsibility of them and Fifa to provide external help for the players, so they could have a safe conversation. The players need to be aware of their rights if they want to seek asylum without being frightened by the Iranian Football Federation.

What will governing bodies do when the other players go back home? They must demand the safety and well-being of these players and their families. I hope if the football federation was sanctioned by Fifa, it would help provide protection for these players. But it is a very difficult and dangerous situation.

Sport is slow at taking action, providing safety, security and support to these players. That’s worrying. Governing bodies are not prepared. And the world is not becoming a better place. It’s getting worse. Afghanistan is yesterday’s news. Then it was Palestine. Iran is now. Which will be the next country and how are these sporting bodies providing support to the players? Are they ready? No. Do they have systems, mechanisms or policies in place to protect players from oppressive regimes? No they don’t.

Football and politics have always been together. They have never been separate. Being in football, we have a platform, and with that platform comes responsibility. And with that responsibility comes standing against a regime that kills women just for being women.

This was the same with the women of Afghanistan. We used our platform to be the voice of women in Afghanistan and it put our lives in danger. Gender apartheid in Afghanistan is happening and our players are standing against that because they are our sisters. That is why we have been in exile. Football gives us the platform. For us, it’s more than a game. It has always been more than a game. It has come with a cost. The Iranian players had their moment to stand for their rights and they did it. For them it will also not be free from cost.

Photography by AFP/Getty Images