Page 22 - TORCH Magazine #15 - February 2020

Saeid Mollaei
Sagi Muki
after security personnel were sent to his home in Iran, with friends and family messaging him that they had been threatened.
IRANIAN
The International Judo Federation, whose leadership observed the threatening behaviour, confirmed that Saeid Mollaei was pressured by Iranian authorities to drop out before the quarter-final to avoid the prospect of fighting Israel’s Sagi Muki in the final, who eventually won the gold medal.
OLYMPIANS TDEFECTING
Saeid Mollaei never returned to Iran. Instead, he flew from Tokyo to Germany where he had an apartment and was granted refugee status after openly challenging his government. He was supported by the International Judo Federation which has taken action against Iran by banning the country from competing in all judo events around the world until it changes its stance towards Israel.
Despite the hatred of the Iranian regime towards Israel, Saeid Molaei showed love by publicly congratulating Israel’s Sagi Muki after he won the gold medal at the event. They have had a number of public exchanges on social media and this February were able to meet in Paris.
The pair shared a picture together and spoke of their hopes for peace between Israel and Iran. The two sportsmen showed the world what peace and friendship really looks like and gave a show of defiance against the Iranian regime’s hatred.
“I hope that he will come to Israel,” said Sagi Muki. “I know he really loves Israel and Israelis. And he really appreciated how our people have welcomed him with such a big embrace.”
wo of Iran’s elite athletes, Saeid Mollaei and Kimia Alizadeh, have defected from the country and
sought asylum in Europe. Being world champions in their respected sports and celebrities within Iran, their fleeing the country came as an unwelcome shock to the Iranian regime.
The Judo World Champion
Iranian Judo professional, Saeid Mollaei, fled to Europe in September 2019 after Iranian authorities forced him to throw a match to avoid an Israeli rival at judo’s world championship in Tokyo.
Mollaei was the reigning champion and wanted to defend his world title against Israel’s Sagi Muki. However, Iranian officials have banned Iranians from competing with Israelis.
Mollaei refused to step down, prompting Iranian officials to attend the competition in Tokyo to speak with him directly. He reluctantly gave in to their demands to throw the match
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