Iranian athlete quits UAE Jiu-Jitsu contests to avoid facing Israeli rival

An Iranian athlete has decided to withdraw from AJP Tour Fujairah International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avoid facing an Israeli counterpart.

According to Press TV, the move, by Hamid Amraei, is seen as a new snub for the regime following similar measures taken by a host of Muslim players from across the Islamic world.

Amraei was initially scheduled to take on an opponent from Brazil in the men’s 77-kilogram weight class, but officials changed the draw and set him on course for a showdown against an Israeli competitor.

The Iranian sportsman and the national team’s technical staff strongly objected to the decision, and Ameraei finally announced his resignation from the international tournament.

The development comes as athletes from Muslim countries have repeatedly refused to compete against Israeli opponents at major international events to protest Israel’s crimes and occupation of Palestinian land.

Back in May, A Kuwaiti wheelchair fencer withdrew from the second International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Cup of 2022 in Thailand over a draw placed her for a match-up against an Israeli opponent.

Earlier that month, Kuwaiti chess player Bader al-Hajri snubbed an Israeli opponent at Spain’s Sunway International Chess Championship, in an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and a blow to the occupying Tel Aviv regime’s status in the world.

The Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) master, who had secured first place at the 2015 San Sebastian chess tournament in Spain, withdrew on May 3 from the competitions to refuse to face an Israeli competitor.

On social media, Arab activists lauded al-Hajri as a champion of “rejecting Arab countries’ normalization” with the Israeli regime by refusing to face “an Israeli settler.”

The activist said they are “proud of him” while noting that the Israelis must be “mad at him.”

ME