Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Middle East Iran & The Gulf

Iranian Olympic wrestler praises Hitler as his inspiration

Israel condemns Mohammad Ali Geraei's comments saying, "The problem is the ayatollahs' antisemitic government that presents the biggest criminal in history as a hero. Like Hitler, the ayatollahs sacrifice the Iranian people for their goals."

by  JNS and ILH Staff
Published on  09-02-2022 10:29
Last modified: 09-02-2022 10:53
Iranian Olympic wrestler praises Hitler as his inspirationTwitter/Israel

Mohammad Ali Geraei' | Screenshot: Twitter/Israel

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Iran International news organization reported this week that Greco-Roman wrestler Mohammad Ali Geraei, who finished in fifth place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cited Hitler as well as boxing legend Muhammad Ali as his inspirations while talking to an Iranian publication on Saturday.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Israel's official Persian-language Twitter page condemned Geraei's comments, saying, "The problem is the ayatollahs' antisemitic government that presents the biggest criminal in history as a hero. Like Hitler, the ayatollahs sacrifice the Iranian people for their goals."

Israel's English-language Twitter account added, "Our role models: parents, teachers, doctors. Iranian wrestling champion Mohammad Ali Geraei's role model: Hitler. … When the Iranian regime normalizes antisemitism and violence against Jews, this is the result."

Sardar Pashaei, an Iranian activist who was a Greco-Roman wrestling champion and former head coach of Iran's Greco-Roman wrestling team, told The Jerusalem Post he was "very sad" to see how Iranian athletes 'have become government puppets and have to learn the lesson of hate instead of friendship."

"Geraei's words are like rubbing salt on the wounds of millions of people whose families were victims of hatred," said Pashaei, who is now an American citizen. "'The International Olympic Committee should end appeasement with Iran, and ban the presence of officials and athletes who are part of the Iranian government's repression and hatred apparatus.

"We will soon send a letter to the World Wrestling Federation and demand the suspension of Ali Geraei for his antisemitic comments," he said.

Geraei was a bronze medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2017, 2019 and 2021 World Championships and took home a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Related Posts

Israel launches successful airstrikes on Iran to retaliate for Oct. 1 attackArab Networks

Explosions across Iran continue

by Dudi Kogan and Reuters

Since the end of the war with Israel, Iran has reported near-daily explosions across the country, with authorities quick to...

Report: Iranian president injured in Israeli strike during war Reuters

Report: Iranian president injured in Israeli strike during war 

by ILH Staff

According to the report, Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials were wounded during a meeting in which several missiles were...

Iranian group offers millions for assassinating TrumpAP

Iranian group offers millions for assassinating Trump

by Or Shaked

An Iranian movement linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a call to Muslims worldwide to carry out...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il