Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein

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Afghanistan women's youth soccer team escapes to Pakistan

Published 1 day ago
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58571183

Female players from Afghanistan's junior national soccer team have crossed the border into Pakistan.

The girls had spent the past month in hiding amid fears of a crackdown on women's rights by the Taliban.

Members of the women's side flew out of Kabul last month but the youth team were reportedly left stranded as they lacked passports and other documents.

Thirty-two players and their families won visas after the charity "Football for Peace" lobbied Pakistan.

An official with Pakistan's Football Federation said the group, totalling 81 people, would be housed at the federation's headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore. A further 34 people will arrive on Thursday he said.

The players will remain in Pakistan under tight security for 30 days before applying for asylum in third countries, the official said.

The Independent recently revealed that the players had written to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan to ask for permission to urgently enter the country.

The letter claimed that the girls were at risk of "grave threats" from the Taliban.

After the fall of Kabul a month ago, players were warned by the national team's former captain, Khalida Popal, to delete pictures of themselves playing on social media and to burn their kits to protect themselves from potential reprisals from the new regime.

Female players from Afghanistan's junior national soccer team have crossed the border into Pakistan.

The girls had spent the past month in hiding amid fears of a crackdown on women's rights by the Taliban.

Members of the women's side flew out of Kabul last month but the youth team were reportedly left stranded as they lacked passports and other documents.

Thirty-two players and their families won visas after the charity "Football for Peace" lobbied Pakistan.

An official with Pakistan's Football Federation said the group, totalling 81 people, would be housed at the federation's headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore. A further 34 people will arrive on Thursday he said.

The players will remain in Pakistan under tight security for 30 days before applying for asylum in third countries, the official said.

The Independent recently revealed that the players had written to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan to ask for permission to urgently enter the country.

The letter claimed that the girls were at risk of "grave threats" from the Taliban.

After the fall of Kabul a month ago, players were warned by the national team's former captain, Khalida Popal, to delete pictures of themselves playing on social media and to burn their kits to protect themselves from potential reprisals from the new regime.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58571183