On Sunday (28th July), Islamists took to social media to hail the ‘greatness’ of an Algerian judo player named Redouane Messaoud Dris.
They branded him as a ‘hero’ for supposedly refusing to compete against Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul during the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics. The Islamists also claimed that his refusal to play against Butbul came in the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and his unwavering support to Palestine.
“Algerian judoka Dris Messaoud, who was scheduled to fight against his Israeli opponent Tohar Butbul in the Paris Olympics, has withdrawn in support of Palestine and the non-normalization of the existence of the State of Israel. Legend,” tweeted ‘Suppressed News.’
🚨🇩🇿🇮🇱BREAKING: Algerian judoka Dris Messaoud, who was scheduled to fight against his Israeli opponent Tohar Butbul in Paris Olympics, has withdrawn in support of Palestine and the non-normalization of the existence of the State of Israel.
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 28, 2024
Legend🔥👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/p2hjAwK4EL
While accusing Israel of committing genocide, one Islamist stated, “BREAKING: Algerian judo competitor Ka Dris Messaoud has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics because his next opponent is an Israeli and he refused to compete against an Israeli athlete while Israel commits genocide.”
BREAKING:
— JmRoyle #LFC #YNWA #BLM #REJOINEU (@MyArrse) July 28, 2024
Algerian judo competitor Ka Dris Messaoud has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics because his next opponent is an Israeli and he refused to compete against an Israeli athlete while Israel commits genocide. pic.twitter.com/uuhtOmKhrm
Another Islamist hailed judoka Redouane Messaoud Dris as a ‘legend.’
🇩🇿🇮🇱BREAKING: Algerian judoka Dris Messaoud, who was scheduled to fight against his Israeli opponent Tohar Butbul in Paris Olympics, has withdrawn in support of Palestine and the non-normalization of the existence of the State of Israel.
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) July 28, 2024
Legend🔥 pic.twitter.com/2wUkf2O8Dj
“The right thing to do. Every athlete, every country should refuse to face off against Israel. #Paris2024,” another X handle brazened out.
Chapeau 🎩judoka Dris Messaoud.
— Maxi 🇵🇸🇿🇦☮️🌻#FreePalestine #EndtheOccupation (@futbalification) July 28, 2024
The right thing to do. Every athlete, every country should refuse to face off against Israel. #Paris2024 https://t.co/28HhoMnRQU
“Well done Dris Messaoud. Israel should not be participating. Very unfair for the other athletes taking part.,” wrote one Sabrina
Well done Dris Messaoud 👏👏👏. Israel should not be participating. Very unfair for the other athletes taking part.
— Sabrina (@Sabrina0922317) July 28, 2024
The Truth behind the viral claims
Contrary to the false bravado of Islamists on social media, Algerian judo player Redouane Messaoud Dris did not ‘refuse’ to play against his Israeli judoka over ‘Palestine’.
In reality, he was disqualified for being overweight and was not allowed to compete against his Israeli counterpart in the under-73kg judo event by the International Judo Federation (IJF).
In a statement, the Olympics officials informed, “Redouane Messaoud Driss has been disqualified…Dris, entered in the men’s -73 kg event, failed the weigh-in. Therefore his opponent Tohar Butbul will win the scheduled contest by walkover.”
Judo: Algerian Dris disqualified ahead of fight against Israel's Butbul https://t.co/EikmAbINBe pic.twitter.com/lXGUfrf4x7
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 28, 2024
Had Algerian judo player Redouane Messaoud Dris intentionally forfeited the match against Tohar Butbul for virtue of his Israeli nationality, he would have been served with a 10-year ban.
Such a precedent was laid down in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when another Algerian player named Fethi Nourine refused to compete and was suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation (IJF). His coach Amar Benikhlef also suffered the loss of accreditation.
The duo was suspended for violating the code of ethics of IJF and the Olympic charter, which prohibits the use of Games for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda.
