Qatari Sociologist Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khazraj Al-Ansari Slams Saudi Sports Officials For Allowing Judoka Alqahtani To Compete Against An Israeli Rival In The Olympics, Adds: Muslim Women Should Not Practice Sports Like Judo In Front of Men

Qatari sociologist Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khazraj Al-Ansari blasted Saudi sports officials for allowing judoka Tahani Alqahtani to participate in a judo match facing Israeli Raz Hershko during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. His remarks were made in a video posted on his official YouTube channel on July 30, 2021. Dr. Al-Ansari said: “You made a mockery of your country and of Islam and the Muslims.” He said that the Saudi officials knew Alqahtani would be beaten by the Israeli judoka, because, as he said: “She is a dinosaur […] she looks like a nightmare.” Al-Ansari said that even he would be afraid to compete against her. He continued to ask why anyone would send Muslim girls to judo only be beaten up. He said that the honor and hijab of Muslim girls must be safeguarded, and the women should not practice sports such as judo or soccer in front of men, but only in closed spaces and with other women. For more about Dr. Al-Ansari, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 7085, 7108, 7134, 7246, 7511, 8031, 8165, 8202, 8331, and 8375.

Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khazraj Al-Ansari: "[The Israeli judoka beat her Saudi rival] 11-0? She crushed her! Let none of the sports officials in Saudi Arabia tell me: We decided to enter [the competition] so that Tahani would crush the Israeli [judoka]. What are you talking about? Did you see the Israeli? She is a dinosaur! Even I am afraid to compete against her. She looks like a nightmare... She is like... There is no power nor strength except by Allah... How was Tahani supposed to beat her? You entered the fight, knowing that your judoka would be defeated. Why? What were you thinking? Why would you recognize a plundering country?

"What is this judo nonsense? A Muslim girl – why send her to judo? Should we send her to be beaten up? Fear Allah! You made a mockery of Muslim girls. Safeguard the honor of the girls, safeguard their hijab! Girls do not need to practice judo, to play soccer, and so on... This is not progress. Fear Allah! Progress is not letting a girl practice sports in front of men, and take her hijab off in front of men. Islam does not forbit women from practicing sports, but they should do it in closed spaces only with other women. But to let a girl unveil herself and get beaten up? But to let a Muslim girl get beaten up by a woman from a plundering entity? By Allah, you made a mockery of this girl called Tahani, you made a mockery of your country and of Islam and the Muslims."