Syrian boxer withdraws from Asian games in solidarity with Palestinians over Israeli referee
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Hangzhou: Syrian boxer Mohammad Mlaiyes has made a bold statement of solidarity with the Palestinian people and a clear rejection of normalization with Israel by withdrawing from the 19th edition of the Asian Games in China.
His decision came in response to the scheduled officiation of his bout by an Israeli referee, Naim Ramaj, during the preliminary round of the men's over 92-kilogram division.
Mlaiyes was initially set to face off against Russian-born Bahraini boxer Danis Latypov at the Hangzhou Gymnasium in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Tuesday. However, upon learning of the Israeli referee's involvement, he withdrew from the competition.
In a resolute statement, Mlaiyes declared, "Syria, its territories, nation, and blood are much more precious than any medal or tournament. It is a country of dignity, pride, and resistance against the Israeli occupation."
His decision highlights the growing sentiment among athletes from Arab and Muslim countries who refuse to compete against Israeli opponents in international events, condemning Israel's actions against the Palestinian people.
Muhammad Ghassoun, the head coach of Syria's national boxing team, lodged an objection with the referee committee, but the event organizers remained firm in their decision to retain the Israeli referee. Mlaiyes chose to withdraw from the competition, standing by his principles.
In recent years, numerous athletes from the Arab and Muslim world have taken similar stands, viewing the participation of Israeli athletes in sports events as a means to normalize relations between Israel and Muslim and Arab nations, despite Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestine and its treatment of Palestinians.
Last month, Syrian swimmer Hammam Hashim Mualla withdrew from the 2023 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Japan to avoid competing against an Israeli opponent.
Similarly, Kuwaiti fencer Abdulaziz Alshatti refused to participate in the 2023 Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE) Senior World Cup contests in Turkey last May to avoid facing an Israeli competitor. Alshatti cited the presence of a representative from the "Zionist entity" as the reason for his withdrawal.