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🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Iranian Footballers Say Silence During Anthem Was a Protest

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said their silence during Iran’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup was a protest against the government.
  • The two players sought asylum in Australia, while five other teammates later withdrew their applications and returned to Iran after pressure on their families.
  • The players now play for Wynnum Wolves in Brisbane and said they have had no contact with their families in Iran for months.

The silence of two Iranian footballers during the national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup was not accidental. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh have now described it as a protest against the government in Tehran.

The two players spoke about the decision in an interview broadcast by Australia’s 60 Minutes. Before Iran’s opening match against South Korea, the team did not sing the anthem. Iranian media later called the players “traitors.”

We simply wanted to stand with our people. Sometimes I was afraid, but I tried to do the right thing and express that no one should be killed for a protest.

· Atefeh RamezanisadehShe explained why she and her teammate did not sing Iran’s national anthem.

The players sang the anthem and saluted during subsequent matches, but the team never issued a public explanation. Seven members of the squad initially sought protection in Australia during the tournament in March. Five later withdrew their asylum applications and returned to Iran after their families faced heavy pressure.

I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from the bottom of my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really could not do that.

· Atefeh RamezanisadehShe described why she did not join the anthem despite wanting to sing it.

Ramezanisadeh said, “I wanted to sing the anthem with pride and from the bottom of my heart. But because of the situation in Iran, I really could not do that.” She also said, “We simply wanted to stand with our people. Sometimes I was afraid, but I tried to do the right thing and express that no one should be killed for a protest.”

Pasandideh, 22, said, “My people risked their lives and were killed. Doing that was the least we could do for them.” Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Pasandideh now play for the semiprofessional Wynnum Wolves in Brisbane. They received Australian citizenship in August and said they have had no contact with their families in Iran for months. Ramezanisadeh said her parents had asked her to return on the orders of Iranian authorities. She wants to see her family again, but only after the situation in Iran changes.

My people risked their lives and were killed. Doing that was the least we could do for them.

· Fatemeh PasandidehShe characterized the players’ protest as a minimal gesture of solidarity with people in Iran.
About this summary

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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