Group photo of Iran football team ‘unwise’ as asylum rejected, Liberals warn

A widely-shared photo of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Iranian women footballers - all but two of which have since reneged of their asylum claims - was “unwise”, Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam has warned. Five of seven players and associates of the Iranian women’s football team granted asylum by the Albanese government have since have left Australia. Fatemeh Pasandideh, one of the players who remained in Australia, posted a photo with FIFA executive and former US women’s coach Jill Ellis to Instagram on Monday afternoon from the Brisbane waterfront with the “everything will be fine”. It is understood the rest of the team are now in Southeast Asia awaiting on-ward travel to Iran when the security situations subsides. Senator Duniam admitted while the women were “going to make choices that are in their best interests”, he warned intense public commentary surrounding their plight “had not helped”. “This elevation of this issue I think has caused more tension than was required, and may well have undercut the very good works of the government in securing asylum for these women,” he told ABC. Senator Duniam said the efforts by the government were “appropriate”. However, the opposition spokesperson for home affairs warned the image shared by Mr Burke was “unwise”. In a photo shared to Mr Burke’s social media last week, the Home Affairs Minister can be seen standing shoulder to should with five of the players who were initially offered asylum after reporting breaking away from regime handlers with assistance from police. “I think the photos were unwise,” Senator Duniam told the ABC. “I think the running commentary was unwise.” He continued: “It was like discretion no longer mattered. “I do think that did have an impact on the future of these women and whether they were going to continue to try and seek asylum and call Australia home.” Senator Duniam said the government had managed the situation well “to a point”. “Keeping matters under wraps, despite the pressure and despite the urging from commentators, Donald Trump, whoever it may have been, they were able keep this in a way that was being managed discreetly,” he said “It was after the photos and the running commentary started to appear that we have these issues.” Senator Duniam did not say whether an intervention by US President Donald Trump had an impact, and defended advocacy from colleague, Liberal MP Julian Leeser. “There’s a big difference between calling on a government to act and a government saying they have acted,” he said. “Because, a player in the political landscape, calling on a government to do something, is different to confirmation that events have happened.” Members of Iran’s diaspora have alleged a regime associate was able to contact team members while in an Australian safe house. Senator Duniam acknowledged the departed players had been able to contact the Iranian embassy. He said attempts to coerce the players had “sadly worked”. “Which is a very heartbreaking turn of events”. In a statement on Sunday, Mr Burke acknowledged the decision by three team members to rejoin the team on their journey back to Iran. “After telling Australian officials they had made this decision the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Mr Burke said. “While the Australian Government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions. “The Australian government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia. “Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them.” Assistant Employment Minister Patrick Gorman defended Mr Burke’s actions on ABC on Monday, including the photo. “We saw broad acceptance of how the government has handled this,” he said, noting it was important the players “had agency” to make a decision. “As difficult as those decisions are, I think we can all have to respect the agency of each individual and the decision that they have made. Mr Burke’s office has been contacted for further comment.