Actually, the Iranian Judoka Saeid Mollaei, in Tokyo, wanted to defend his world champion title. However, the Iranian leadership said it to him – because he will have to fight in the final against an Israeli.
“I’m a fighter. I want to compete wherever I can, with opponents. But I live in a country that does not allow me.” The Iranian top Judoka Saeid Mollaei says in a Youtube Video, the world Federation IJF published. The 27-Year-old returned from the world Championships in Tokyo, not in his homeland, but travelled to Berlin. Mollaei rejected reports that he had applied for political asylum in Germany. “I’m not a refugee. I have a valid visa and also own an apartment in Germany,” he told the TV channel “Iran International” in London.
#IsupportMollaei
The case has long been a political issue. While the Iranians is in Israel on the best way to the people’s heroes, and in the social networks under the world Federation IJF-initiated Hashtag #IsupportMollaei (I run support Mollaei) a campaign for the Judoka, the leaders in Iran is anything other than “amused”. The chief of the Iranian National Olympic Committee, Reza Salehi Amiri, accused IJF President, Marius Vizer, to have Mollaei encouraged an asylum application in Germany””.
Phone call from the highest authority
A year ago Mollaei had been in his home country celebrated. In Baku, he had won the first Judo world champion title for Iran for 15 years. He wanted to defend in Tokyo. Mollaei was again in top form and headed for the Finale – just as the Israeli Judoka Sagi Muki. And that is exactly what the Iranian sports officials called on the Plan. A fight against an Israeli, it was against the law, let the officials Mollaei know. He should get out of the Competition, called the Deputy Iranian Minister of sport Davar Zani and threatened Mollaei and his family the consequences should he refuse.
As the Judoka fought however more, appeared to be a representative of the Iranian Embassy in the hall. And finally, NOK-chief of Amiri called. According to the IJF, he informed Mollaei that security forces in the house of his parents. Images were then recorded, showed a desperate athlete. The Judoka took to the semi-finals, lost the battle but also how then to Bronze intentionally, as Mollaei says: “I have given only 10 percent, so I was against the law of my country.”
“A True Champion”
The Israeli Sagi Muki was the champion of the world, Mollaei congratulated via Instagram. Many Israelis and exile-Iranians celebrated Mollaei on the social networks. “You’re a true Champion and a great man,” wrote about an Israeli User, in another comment it was said: “respect, you’re a brave man.” An Iranian woman, to be referred to the rulers in Tehran as a “single Regime, that its athletes will be forces for political reasons, to lose against the opponent. This has got to stop.”
Also the new champion of the world strengthened the Iranians in the back. “I’m very sad about the Situation of Mollaei,” said Muki, the Israeli newspaper “The Jerusalem Post”. “I know how hard an Athlete trains. And when he is then taken away from such an opportunity, for political reasons, it is very painful. Mollaei is a great person and as far as I can tell, also a great Athlete. He does not deserve to be treated like that.” He dreams of it, so Muki, can you Mollaei at the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo to compete. “I would like to shake his Hand and hug him. Together, we can show that the Sport is everything.”
In the refugee team at the Olympics?
Whether Mollaei can, however, start in Tokyo, is still written in the stars. IJF President Vizer had assured him of his support, says of the Iranians. The publicly expressed anger of the Iranian rulers is against the IJF-chief. In a government newspaper a picture Vizers was printed with a Zion star on the neck and a “conspiracy against Iran” written.
Vizer have guaranteed Mollaei, that he could compete at the Olympic games in the international refugee team, says the article. NOK-chief of Amiri have complained to IOC President Thomas Bach on this “interference”. Mollaei will receive on his return to Iran, “as the Champion with open arms,” wrote Amiri to Bach.
“Only 10 percent” – Mollaei (R) in the battle for Bronze at the world Championships against the Georgians Luka Maisuradze
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 are no longer allowed to compete at the instruction of the rulers in Tehran Iranian athletes against Israeli athletes. So in 2017, were suspended the two Iranian football players Ehasan Hajsafi and Masoud Shojaei temporarily from the national team because they had played with the Greek club, in which they were under contract, in the Europa League against the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
At the U23 world Championships, the wrestlers in 2017, in Poland, the Iranian Athlete Ali-Reza Karimi in the semi-final of his coaches have been instructed to lose, because in the parallel-fight stand an Israeli on the Mat.
Also, Saeid Mollaei is now caught between the millstones of the policy. “I’m an Athlete, not a politician,” said the Judoka. “I meddled, never in the policy.”