2024-01-14 22:37:47
Turkish authorities arrested Israeli footballer Sagiv Jehezkel on charges of “inciting public opinion and inciting hostility and hatred,” media reported.
Gehzekel is an Antalyaspor player, and he was arrested, according to the Habertürk website, after the public prosecutor launched an investigation against him.
His arrest came following his exclusion from the team and the initiation of procedures to terminate his contract.
What happened?
The footballer had scored Antalyaspor’s equalizer against Trabozenspor on Sunday night.
During that moment, 28-year-old Jezkel appeared in front of the cameras celebrating, making a gesture by pointing to a bandage on his wrist, on which was written the date of the Hamas attack on October 7, along with the Star of David and the phrase “The 100th Day.”
The movement sparked anger within Turkish circles, and “Antalyaspor” quickly moved to delete the player’s photo that was published on the team’s official page on the “X” website.
The team’s president, Sinan Boztepe, said that they are proceeding with procedures to terminate his contract permanently.
He explained in a statement that the Israeli player “conducted an act that conflicts with the national values of our country.”
He added, “Our board of directors will never allow any behavior that violates the sensitivities of our country, even if it leads to the loss of a championship or cup.”
In turn, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tun said that a judicial investigation had been opened against Cezkel by the Antalya Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility.”
He added: “We will always continue to stand with the oppressed Palestinians.”
Media outlets, including Hurriyet newspaper, reported that the arrest of the player and the opening of an investigation against him came “because of his ugly behavior in support of the Israeli massacre in Gaza after scoring the goal.”
The Vice-President of the Justice and Development Party and the party’s spokesman, Omer Celik, posted a picture of Farah Cezkel, which sparked reactions, on his account on the social networking site, and wrote: “Slave of hatred…”
The Turkish Football Federation issued a statement saying: “We condemn the completely unacceptable behavior of football player Segev Cezkel in the Antalyaspor – Trabzonspor match that was held today in the Trendyol Super League.”
The statement added: “We find that Antalyaspor’s decision to exclude the footballer from the team is appropriate. The necessary measures and disciplinary investigations against those responsible are being implemented urgently.”
He continued: “Public opinion should have no doubt that the necessary measures will be taken against those responsible for this act that affects human dignity and the conscience of Turkish society.”
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