World champion wrestler Azizov praises sports community for support to Palestine

By Faruk Hanedar

ISTANBUL (AA) – Shamil Azizov, a world champion wrestler from Russia's Dagestan, touted that many in the sports community have made their position clear in support of Palestine and raised their voices against Zionism.

"Many innocent people lose their lives in this genocide. Children, women and old people are being killed. The whole world is silent about this right now," Azizov told Anadolu on the sidelines of the European Summit for Palestine at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul.

Azizov, who has also an active role in the European Muslim Forum, praised sports community's support for Palestine.

"All famous athletes, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, they all post on Instagram in support of Palestine and against genocide," he said. "Even the football player Cristiano Ronaldo also declared that he was against Israel, against genocide."

The wrestler also drew attention to sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine war.

Russian athletes, he said, could not participate in competitions in Europe for two years due to the Russia-Ukraine, however, no similar sanctions were imposed on Israel despite all the injustices it committed.

Azizov hailed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for Palestine, unlike other world leaders.

"All the governments of the world, they are silent. But President Erdogan spoke very much against Israel," the world champion added.

At least 17,177 Palestinians have been killed and more than 46,000 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp and Burc Eruygur