'Iran put pressure on me to lose, but I came to compete'

Arutz Sheva ^ | 1/9/19

[Eleutheria5]

Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei has requested political asylum in Germany after being forced to throw a match to avoid having to face an Israeli opponent.

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki made history Wednesday when he became the first Israeli to win the gold medal at the the Judo World Championship finals in Japan, defeating Belgian opponent Matthias Casse.

Mollaei had received a phone call from his mother in Iran instructing him to throw his match against Georgian Judoka Matthias Casse so that he would not have to face Muki in the semi-finals.

Moallei, who has criticized his country's policy of refusing to compete against Israeli athletes, reportedly sought asylum in Germany on Saturday following threats against him and his family.

.....

[Eleutheria5]

He could have been a contender.

[2banana]

I guess the muslims were afraid to lose to a jew.

[reg45]

Putting the Jew in Judo. LOL

[Moltke]

So he was in Japan, a safe country, and he applies for asylum in Germany? Did he spin a globe and put a finger down somewhere at random?

[gibsonguy]

https://youtu.be/l7sMr89BHVk

[Bringbackthedraft]

So he was in Japan, a safe country, and he applies for asylum in Germany? Did he spin a globe and put a finger down somewhere at random? ............................ Very strict asylum and immigration laws? Some might even say Japan is a racist country?

[Stevenfo]

His chances for asylum in Japan would be near zero.

[Grimmy]

So he was in Japan, a safe country, and he applies for asylum in Germany?

***************

Japan doesn’t take Muslims under any conditions, iirc.

[Eleutheria5]

He had to get far from his handlers, and he had a visa for Germany in waiting for just such an occasion. Hope he finally has a good, sportsmanlike match with the Jewdo champeen.

[Robert DeLong]

Could be he knew Japan would not honor his asylum request, whereas Germany would. Now I have no insight as to this being the case, but I assume their is a reason behind his choosing Germany over Japan.

[null and void]

I’m just surprised he didn’t apply to the US.

[Robert DeLong]

Eleutheria5 stated he had a visa already for Germany. Don't know if that is accurate, but it could explain why he chose Germany.

Got to wonder though what backlash his parents will face due to his decision. Perhaps they had discussed it with him previously, and they told him to do it?