The Iranian women\u2019s football team left their hotel and arrived at Gold Coast airport on Tuesday afternoon, appearing to have just hours left to take up Australia\u2019s offer of asylum before they depart the country.<\/p>\n
Five players, led by captain Zahra Ghanbari, were formally granted protection in Australia by home affairs minister Tony Burke early on Tuesday morning. The group has already been given an offer to train with A-League Women club Brisbane Roar.<\/p>\n
Advocates connected to the group believed more \u2013 including possibly some staff \u2013 were considering staying in Australia. But the group, which is still under surveillance by the minders around the team, left their hotel with one player in tears. Protestors briefly blocked the departure of the bus, before it continued on to drop the players off at the Gold Coast airport.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International Australia\u2019s Zaki Haidari said the players must be given an opportunity to speak to officials at the airport. \u201cCustoms and immigration officials, as well as Australian Border Force officers, have an opportunity to intervene and remind the team of their rights to seek protection in Australia,\u201d he said, adding the offer of protection from the Australian government should be extended to players\u2019 families in Iran.<\/p>\n
Burke had said on Tuesday morning the other team members have been provided with the option to stay. \u201cWe are making sure there are further opportunities where if people want to make a request [to stay] they get that opportunity,\u201d Burke said.<\/p>\n
Refugee advocate and former Socceroo Craig Foster said the players must be given independent legal advice before they leave the country. \u201cWe have a duty of care to these women now, from between now and when they may leave, that they\u2019re all provided with that opportunity,\u201d he said on the ABC.<\/p>\n
The five Iran players granted asylum with Home Affairs minister Tony Burke. Photograph: AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Legal experts have expressed concern over possible offences committed under \u201cexit trafficking\u201d legislation, which prohibits the movement of people in and out of Australia using coercion.<\/p>\n
NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner James Cockayne called for \u201caccountability\u201d for people \u201cundertaking criminal violations of Australian law while in Australia\u201d. He wrote to Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Krissy Barrett on Monday night, referring \u201ca case of suspected exit trafficking for immediate investigation\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said members of the Iranian team, CCTV and other eye-witness accounts could help determine whether crimes have been committed. \u201cThere\u2019s certainly a duty to protect human rights under international law, and that includes robust investigation of credible allegations like we see here. Whether the investigation concludes that there is a criminal offence is for the investigating authorities to determine.\u201d<\/p>\n
He warned the decision to investigate might not only be that of the AFP. \u201cThere are obviously some complex geopolitical and diplomatic sensitivities that will be factors in government decision making on this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AFP issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon, confirming they have been \u201cproviding assistance\u201d to officials from the Department of Home Affairs for the past three days. \u201cThe AFP acknowledges the community leaders, not-for-profit groups and ordinary Australians for their assistance and advocacy in this matter. The AFP will not be making further comment at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has come under international pressure around his handling of the matter, amplified by the intervention of US President Donald Trump through social media posts in the early hours of Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Albanese said it remained a \u201cdelicate\u201d situation, but it will be up to the players to reach out for help. \u201cIt is up to them. But we say to them, if you want our help, help is here, and we will provide that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n