Australia grants citizenship to 2 Iranian women’s soccer players who sought asylum
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who claimed asylum in Australia in March have been granted citizenship. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in the day before at a citizenship ceremony in their Australian home city of Brisbane. Friends and supporters…
Brisbane, Australia (AP) — Two Iranian women's soccer players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, who sought asylum in Australia in March, have been granted Australian citizenship. On the day before the ceremony, Immigration Minister Tony Burke administered the oath of citizenship to the two women in a private ceremony held in their city of Brisbane.
A crowd of friends and supporters from the local Iranian community joined the festivities. Fatemeh Ramezanisadeh expressed her pride and gratitude in a statement, stating that Australia had given her the chance to build her life and future. She also noted that her Iranian heritage would always be a part of her identity. Pasandideh described Wednesday as "one of the happiest days of my life."
She emphasized that the moment meant more than words could convey. When queried about the expediting of their citizenship, Burke's office refused to comment on individual cases, citing privacy concerns. The Refugee Council of Australia, a charity supporting asylum seekers, explained that refugees generally need to reside in Australia on a valid visa for four years to apply for citizenship.
However, the women's citizenship could have been expedited under Australian law to allow them to represent their new country in soccer.
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