Committee for veteran weightlifters also dissolved after the two athletes take photo at championships in Poland.

Iran has banned a weightlifter from sports for life and dissolved a sports committee after the athlete greeted an Israeli counterpart on a podium.

Mostafa Rajaei, a veteran weightlifter, finished second in his category in the 2023 World Master Weightlifting Championships in Poland and stood on a podium with an Iranian flag wrapped around him on Saturday.

On anther step of the podium stood Maksim Svirsky from Israel, who finished third.

The two athletes shook hands and took a picture together, which led to the Iran Weightlifting Federation banning Rajaei from all sports for life due to what it called an “unforgivable” transgression.

  • @[email protected]
    190•1 year ago

    You’ve gotta be pretty insecure to have a complete breakdown over a minor issue. Really makes Irans government appear weak.

    • @BertramDitoreEnglish
      55•1 year ago

      Yeah, all this does is broadcast weakness. It’s a pathetic reaction.

            • Fazoo
              4•1 year ago

              People of the Book absolutely applied to Jews. Ever heard of the Muslim prophets Noah, Moses, and Abraham? It is the main reason for them fleeing to Muslim countries during Christian persecutions of their communities. Second class, sure, but to say they were only mistreated is a blatant historical accuracy. Iran and Turkey are home to large Jewish communities to this day. Sephardic Jews, from Spain, were expelled by Catholics, after living for several hundred years under the Umayyad Caliphate.

              Iran’s issue is with the existence of a Jewish state. Not the existence of Jews in the world.

              Please educate yourself before acting like you know better. A basic Google search can literally disprove much of what you claim.