Rio De Janeiro – Egyptian Who Wouldn’t Shake Israeli’s Hand Reprimanded, Sent Home

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    Egypt's Islam El Shehaby, blue, declines to shake hands with Israel's Or Sasson, white, after losing during the men's over 100-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)Rio De Janeiro – An Egyptian athlete who refused to shake his Israeli opponent’s hand after their judo bout has been reprimanded and sent home from the Rio Olympics, officials said Monday.

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    The International Olympic Committee said Islam El Shehaby received a “severe reprimand” for his behavior following his first-round heavyweight bout loss to Or Sasson on Friday.

    When Sasson extended his hand, El Shehaby backed away and shook his head, injecting Middle Eastern politics into the Rio Olympics. The referee called the 34-year-old El Shehaby back to the mat and obliged to him to bow; he gave a quick nod and was loudly booed as he exited.

    Judo opponents typically bow or shake hands at the beginning and end of a match as a sign of respect.

    El Shehaby, an ultraconservative Salafi Muslim, had come under pressure from Islamist-leaning and nationalist voices in Egypt before the Rio Games to withdraw, but competed anyway.

    The IOC, which set up a disciplinary commission to investigate the incident, said the Egyptian’s conduct “was contrary to the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic values.”

    The Egyptian Olympic Committee also “strongly condemned” El Shehaby’s actions “and has sent him home,” the IOC said.

    The IOC also asked the Egyptian committee to make sure that all its athletes “receive proper education on the Olympic values before coming to the Olympic Games.”

    Immediately after the bout, the Egyptian Olympic committee had called it a “personal action” by El Shehaby, adding that he had been “alerted before the match to abide by all the rules and to have sporting spirt during his match with the Israeli player.”

    Sasson, who lost in the semifinals but later won a bronze medal, had said he was not surprised by El Shehaby’s actions because his coaches had warned him he might be refused a handshake. “This was his decision,” he said.

    Similar incidents have happened before at judo competitions between Israelis and Arabs.

    Egypt was the first country in the Arab world to sign a peace treaty and normalize relations with Israel after decades of war.


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    11 Comments
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    7 years ago

    Good riddance!

    VeyIzMir
    VeyIzMir
    7 years ago

    He may have been sent home, but I’m sure he will receive a hero’s welcome when he gets there! Crazy people.

    kenyaninwhitehouse
    kenyaninwhitehouse
    7 years ago

    I thought the Zionists made peace with Egypt, another Zionist folly.

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    7 years ago

    A great victory for Israel and all of the Jewish nation. Sasson went on to win a bronze medal, a great Kiddush Hashem-Jews can do anything!

    why-not
    why-not
    7 years ago

    Have you studied the halachos of kidush hsshem that would define this as such?

    Normal
    Normal
    7 years ago

    Israel and Egypt have been at peace for decades, wonder what would have happened had it been any other country.

    7 years ago

    The Israeli should not even have attempted to shake hands with that sore loser. A slight nod would have sufficed.