MELBOURNE – In a powerful act of defiance, two members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, have publicly confirmed that their refusal to sing the national anthem during the Women’s Asian Cup in March was a protest against the Iranian government. This pivotal moment took place amidst ongoing protests in Iran against the theocratic regime.
During their first media interview since seeking asylum in Australia, broadcast on the current affairs program “60 Minutes,” Ramezanisadeh, 34, expressed the motivation behind their silence. “We just wanted to stand with our people. I was scared at times, but I just tried to do what was right and say that no one should be killed just for protesting,” she stated through an interpreter.
The decision not to sing the national anthem before their opening match against South Korea on March 2 drew significant media attention. While some in Iran labeled the team as traitors for their silence, others viewed it as an act of resistance or mourning due to the U.S. and Israeli attacks that began on February 28. However, the team did not publicly elaborate on their decision at the time.
This act of protest led to calls from demonstrators for the team to be granted asylum in Australia, highlighting the risks faced by those opposing the Iranian regime. Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh later conveyed that their silence was a deliberate stand against the brutal government crackdown on protests back home. Ramezanisadeh noted, “At that moment, the only thing that gave me peace and a clear conscience was not singing it. I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really couldn’t do it.”
Fatemeh Pasandideh echoed these sentiments, stating, “My people put their lives on the line and they were killed. Doing that was the absolute least we could do for them.” The situation escalated when U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for the team to be granted asylum, a move that captured international attention.
Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke later revealed that, at that time, no asylum had been offered to the team. Burke explained, “The silence of itself was deeply significant,” emphasizing the impact of their gesture. Eventually, seven members of the team accepted offers for asylum in Australia, although most changed their minds, leaving only Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh committed to their new lives in Brisbane, where they now play for the Wynnum Wolves semi-professional soccer team.
As they settled into their new country, both women faced the heart-wrenching reality of leaving their families behind. Ramezanisadeh shared that her parents urged her to return, claiming nothing would happen to her. However, she firmly decided against going back, stating, “Thinking that I might never be able to see my family again was heartbreaking, but I couldn’t allow myself to be indifferent while so many young people were being killed by this regime.”
Despite their current safety, both women have not been in contact with their families in recent months but have heard that their relatives have not faced punishment for their actions. Pasandideh remarked on the sensitivity surrounding their former teammates, saying, “We decided not to talk because I don’t want to put their lives in danger.”
Looking to the future, Pasandideh expressed hope for a time when they could return to Iran under better circumstances, saying, “One of my biggest dreams is to be able to go back to Iran, but in different circumstances when the situation in Iran has changed and the people of Iran are happy and thriving.”
