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An Iranian athlete has decided to withdraw from the AJP Tour Fujairah International Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avoid facing an Israeli opponent.
The move by Hamid Amrei was seen as a new snub to the regime, following similar measures by many Muslim players in the Islamic world.
Amraei had originally planned to fight his opponent from Brazil in the men’s 77kg heavyweight bout, but officials changed the tie and pitted him against Israel.
Iranian athletes and national team technicians strongly opposed the decision, and Amerai eventually announced his withdrawal from international competitions.
The development comes as athletes from Muslim countries have repeatedly refused to compete against their Israeli rivals at major international events in protest of Israel’s crimes and occupation of Palestinian land.
Back in May, a Kuwaiti wheelchair fencer withdrew from the 2022 second International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Cup in Thailand due to a draw that pitted her against her Israeli counterpart.
In a post on its Twitter, the Kuwait Paralympic Committee wrote: “Kuwaiti athlete Holud Muthari withdrew from the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Cup in Thailand to avoid complicity with the Zionist Entities Competitors Compete.” p.
Earlier this month, Kuwaiti chess player Bader al-Hajri An Israeli opponent was snubbed at the Sunway Chess Championship in Spain in solidarity with the Palestinian people and a blow to the occupying Tel Aviv regime’s place in the world.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) grandmaster, who finished first at the 2015 San Sebastian Chess Championship in Spain, withdrew from the tournament on May 3, refusing to face his Israeli rival.
On social media, Arab activists hailed Hajiri as a champion of “rejection of the normalization of Arab states with the Israeli regime” and his refusal to confront “Israeli settlers.”
The activist said they were “proud of him”, while noting that the Israelis must be “mad at him.”
A month ago, Kuwaiti fencer Mohammad Fadli withdrew from the World Fencing Championships in the UAE for the same reason.
Fadli also withdrew from the international championships in the Dutch capital Amsterdam in September 2019 after playing in a group with an Israeli player.
In July 2021, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine dropped out of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan’s capital, after a draw put him on the path to a potential showdown with his Israeli opponent.
Nourine made the move after being drawn earlier in the day to face Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the second round of the men’s judo under 73kg if he is to advance to his first bout.
Noulin said his political support for the Palestinian cause kept him from competing with his Israeli rivals.
That same month, Sudanese judoka Mohammad Abdul Rasul also withdrew from the Tokyo Summer Olympics, becoming the second athlete to withdraw from an international multisport event to avoid facing an Israeli opponent.
After Nourine took similar steps, the Sudanese athlete decided to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics, and after the draw, he could face Boutpur in the second round of the men’s judo under 73kg.
Lebanon’s Abdullah Miniato also pulled out of an international mixed martial arts (MMA) bout in Sofia, Bulgaria to avoid a match against an Israeli opponent after two African athletes competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo refusing to confront an Israeli adversary.
The young Lebanese fighter and his trainer Mohamed Al Galbi have announced their withdrawal from the sport following a draw with an Israeli athlete in Miniato.
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