Egyptian Olympian Sent Home After Refusing to Shake Hands with Israeli Opponent

Lack of Sportsmanship

Islam El Shehaby, an Olympic Judo player from Egypt, was heaving and sweating. There was still 90 seconds left before the match was finished but he knew it was all over. He had lost. It was the first round of the over-100 kg category in Judo of the Rio Olympics.

Still he made it to the Olympics where the world's best athletes compete in a spirit of equality and fairness. That's enough achievement that would last him a lifetime.

His opponent stretched out his hand to express sportsmanship and gratitude for the fair fight. El Shehaby didn't move, instead he turned his back and walked away. The crowd fell silent and watched the unfolding drama.

The referee called him back to bow and shake hands with his opponent to gracefully end the fight, but he still refused.

He could have shaken the hand of any opponent, win or lose, but not this one. Not only did he lose, but he lost against Israel's Or Sasson.

The audience started to boo when Shehaby stubbornly refused to heed the ref's call to shake hands. He gave a half-hearted nod and walked out of the mat while the audience rained down on him a loud chorus of jeers and boos.

Egypt And The IOC Disciplines Shehaby

His actions sparked international condemnation. El Shehaby's own team, the Egyptian delegation, was swift to penalize his rude and ill-mannered behavior immediately kicking him back to Egypt. The International Olympic Committee issued him a very severe reprimand for his lack of manners.

Shehaby reasoned that shaking an opponent's hand was not mandatory in the rules of Judo, but the IOC rebuked him saying that his actions were an upfront against the rules and spirit of the Olympics Games itself that promoted equality and friendship.

Pressure From Fellow Muslims

The Associated Press investigated the background of El Shehaby beyond Judo and found out that he is a Salafi Muslim - an ultra-conservative branch of Islam.

El Shehaby, 34 years old and a bronze medalist in the 2010 World Judo Championships, apparently was under pressure among his fellow Salafi Muslims to boycott the fight against Sassoon for the sake of nation and faith. El Shehaby has been known to harbor extreme  anti-Israel attitudes.

Reports say that the Egyptian was dilly dallying to forfeit or fight just moments before the fight with Or Sassoon.

A Snapshot of the Middle East

Pundits have said that El Shehaby's behavior is a snapshot of the perilous sociopolitical realities in the Middle East.

El Shehaby was interviewed by Reuters after the fight and said that "Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules. It happens between friends and he's not my friend." El Shehaby further said:  "I have no problem with the Jewish people or any other religion or different beliefs. But for personal reasons, you can't ask me to shake the hand of anyone from this State, especially in front of the whole world,"

Or Sasson who eventually became the bronze medalist was unperturbed by Shehaby's antics.  "I knew he would do it, so it wasn't a surprise for me," he said, according to the Associated Press. "But I cannot say anything. This was his decision."