For having expressed their support for the Palestinian people, the Olympic champion and double world champion, is today in the crosshairs of the Israeli swimming association which filed a complaint with the International Swimming Federation.
A press release from Espérance ST was published on Tuesday October 24 in support of its swimmer and according to which the Israeli swimming association filed a complaint with the International Federation of the Discipline against the Olympic Champion.
This press release, published on the sidelines of the results of the best swimmer competition for the year 2023 won by Chinese, Qin Haiyang, comes to align with the press release from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which had denounced not to choose the Tunisian swimmer and criticized the decision of the international federation.
The ministry recalled that the champion Ayoub Hafnaoui was however largely at the top of the votes, according to the World Aquatics shortly before the official announcement of the big winners of this title, but the International Federation had another opinion although Ayoub Hafnaoui won the majority of votes against Chinese Qin Haiyang (world champion for three events in Fukuoka) and French Leon Marchand.
Olympic champion of the 400m freestyle of the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021, Hafnaoui won three medals including two in gold and two titles of world champion during the World Swimming, which took place last July in Fukuoka in Japan. What make it the favorite of the next Paris Olympics in 2024.
As a reminder, Ayoub Hafnaoui, published, on October 16, a video on social networks, to express their support for the Palestinian people: “I wanted to say: keep good Palestine, hold on! May God be with you … We always think of you. We are wholeheartedly with you. By our faith in God, we believe that victory will be in Palestine. Long live Palestine ”.
The case of Ayoub Hafnaoui is reminiscent of that of Ons Jabeur, who also took a position in the conflict. It may even be sanctioned by WTA. Indeed, since her message of support to the Palestinians, on October 11, she remains at the heart of the controversy.
“What the Palestinians have been going through for 75 years is indescribable. What innocent citizens are going through is indescribable, whatever their religion and whatever their origins (…) violence will never lead to peace. I cannot tolerate violence; But either I cannot bear that people are confiscated their lands… ”, she had written in particular.
A position that attracted the wrath of the Israeli Tennis Federation. “This tennis player fights, encourages and supports a deadly terrorist organization. (…) ”, Said in particular the president of the Israeli tennis association. He decided to complain to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
