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An undated photo released by Australia's Department of Home Affairs on March 11, 2026 shows two more members of the Iranian women's football team to claim asylum in Australia, player Mohaddeseh Zolfi (L) and support member Zahra Soltan Meshkeh Kar (3rd L), posing with their five other teammates who had earlier claimed asylum Fatemeh Pasandideh (2nd L), Atefeh Ramezanizadeh (4th L), Mona Hamoudi (C), Zahra Ghanbari (4th R), and Zahra Sarbali (R), along with two other local officials (2nd and 3rd R) in Sydney. (AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS / AFP)
March 11, 2026, 8:23 pm
Iran women soccer players evacuate safe house in Australia after location revealed
One out of seven members who sought asylum changes her mind, informs the Iranian embassy of where they are staying; Video shows chaos as guards try stop defections
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Iran's Zahra Sarbali, top, and Philippines' Malea Cesar battle for the ball during the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
March 9, 2026, 6:35 pm
Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women’s soccer team members
US president says Washington will take in athletes if Canberra doesn’t, amid fears they could be persecuted after declining to sing national anthem before one of their games
By Reuters
Iran's players salute during the national anthem before the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 football match between Iran and Philippines in Gold Coast on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
March 9, 2026, 9:41 am
Calls grow for Australia to give Iran’s women’s soccer team asylum after anthem protest
Reza Pahlavi and J.K. Rowling join growing chorus urging Canberra to protect the players after Iranian state TV brands them ‘wartime traitors’
By AFP
Then-director of the Criminal Investigation Agency of Mexico Tomas Zeron listens during a press conference at the Attorney General building in Mexico City, on October 27, 2014. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP)
January 14, 2021, 10:12 pm
Mexico says fugitive ex-investigator seeking asylum in Israel
Former head of the country’s Criminal Investigation Agency Tomas Zeron is accused of using torture, enforced disappearance and embezzling $55 million of public funds
By AFP
Members of an Orthodox Jewish community put a label from the 'International Rescue Committee for Jewish Families of the Lev Tahor Settlement' on the window of a bus in Guatemala city on September 25, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / JOHAN ORDONEZ)
September 22, 2019, 3:53 pm
Leaders of fringe ultra-Orthodox cult Lev Tahor requested asylum in Iran
Sect members swore allegiance to Khamenei last year, according to documents filed in US court ahead of kidnap, child abuse trial
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Saeid Mollaei in 2018 (YouTube screenshot)
September 1, 2019, 1:26 pm
Judo chief threatened to kick Iran out of Olympics if Israel snubbed — report
Enraged Marius Vizer called Iran’s Rouhani after learning of pressure on judoka Saeid Mollaei to throw match to avoid facing Israel’s Sagi Muki, Army Radio says
By ToI Staff
Saeid Mollaei in 2018 (YouTube screenshot)
August 31, 2019, 11:00 pm
Iran blames judo chiefs, Israel, as judoka flown to Berlin from Tokyo for asylum
Iran media says head of world Judo Federation conspired with Israel to spirit Saeid Mollaei away; he had been pressured to avoid fighting Israel’s Sagi Muki in world tourney
By ToI Staff
Judoka Luka Maisuradze of Georgia, top, competes against Saeid Mollaei of Iran during a men's under-81 kilogram bronze medal match at the World Judo Championships in Tokyo, August 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
August 31, 2019, 12:57 pm
Iranian judoka allegedly coerced to avoid fight against Israeli seeks asylum
International Judo Federation confirms Saeid Mollaei has requested asylum in Germany after reportedly being pressured to throw match at World Judo Championship
By ToI Staff
Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, in Dubai on Jan 17, 2016. (AP/Martin Dokoupil)
July 2, 2019, 4:42 pm
Jordanian princess in hiding over marital spat with Dubai ruler
Haya Bint Al Hussein apparently holed up with her children in UK, possibly seeking asylum
By ToI Staff
Rabbi Yael Karrie speaking at the the Freedom Seder on Saturday night, March 31, 2018 at Kol Haneshama (Courtesy Kol Haneshama)
April 1, 2018, 6:58 pm
Jerusalem Reform congregation hosts asylum seekers for 2nd night ‘Freedom Seder’
Kol Haneshama members open their homes to African migrants on the Passover holiday in act of solidarity
By Jessica Steinberg
Sacked Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont arrives for a press conference in Brussels, October 31, 2017. (AP/Olivier Matthys)
October 31, 2017, 3:44 pm
Separatist Catalan ex-president says he won’t seek asylum in Belgium
Carles Puigdemont vows to continue campaigning for independence from Spain, calls for avoiding violence
By Agencies
An undated photo of Major Ahmad-Reza Khosravi (right), a former pilot in the helicopter unit of the Iranian Security Services (Courtesy)
April 13, 2016, 9:39 pm
Iranian pilot defects, threatens regime he’ll seek asylum in Israel
Opposed to Iran’s ruling ethos, Ahmad-Reza Khosravi fled to Turkey last year. Now he says he’ll work to harm the Islamic Republic if it doesn’t stop harassing his wife and son
By Neda Amin and Mohsen Rostambakhsh
Placards and messages placed by supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange outside the Ecuador Embassy in London in late June, where Assange attempted to gain political asylum. (photo credit: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)
February 5, 2016, 11:46 am
UN panel: Britain ‘arbitrarily detained’ WikiLeaks founder Assange
UK rejects call for Australian’s release, compensation for years he hid at Ecuador embassy to dodge arrest over rape allegations
By Katherine HADDON and Nina Larson
File: Refugees who arrived by train from Salzburg, Austria, wait on a platform at the central station in Munich, Germany, on September 6, 2015. (Photo by Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
September 11, 2015, 5:06 am
In Germany, Syrian refugees seek out a Jewish welfare organization
With Germany to absorb 800,000 potential immigrants, Jews ponder whether those raised to hate them will be able to integrate into a tolerant society
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Migrants rush to board a train in Bicske, Hungary, September 3, 2015. Over 150,000 migrants have reached Hungary this year, most via the southern border with Serbia. Many apply for asylum, but quickly try to leave for richer EU countries. (AP/Petr David Josek)
September 4, 2015, 2:40 am
Hungary opens door to trains for migrants, but only to camps
Hundreds refuse to disembark after arriving at refugee centers for asylum seekers; travel to Germany, Austria canceled
By Shawn Pogatchnik
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