Austrian wrestler Khaled (Wilhelm) commemorated the 40th Sabra and Shatila massacre in his own way, during his competition in the German MMA championship.
In videos posted by Ott and the German league’s Instagram account, the wrestler appeared before the start of his match against Alexander Wisner on Saturday 17 September, wrapping the Palestinian flag around his body.
Standing on the podium, Ott said: “I am using this podium to highlight the injustice that prevails in this world”, then raised the Palestinian flag and sang “Freedom for Palestine”.
On his Instagram account, Ott wrote: “You will never be forgotten, Sabra and Shatila (1982), the first genocide after the Second World War”.
The Austrian wrestler, mixed martial arts champion Ott, is known for his continued solidarity with the Palestinian cause and his desire to shed light on it in his various matches.
And last April, Ott dedicated his victory in a match of the “Vandita for Night” tournament in the Austrian capital Vienna to the Palestinian people, lifting the Palestinian flag on his shoulders and waving it in the ring, while singing: “God is great! Palestine is free!”.
Ott was also known for his advocacy of Muslim causes in general, having previously criticized the West’s handling of the Russian war against Ukraine over its relations with Arab affairs.
Ott got the name “Khaled” instead of “Wilhelm” after converting to Islam about two years ago.
On September 16, Palestinians commemorated the “Sabra and Shatila” massacre, which killed thousands of people in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon in 1982, at the hands of militias believed to be pro-Israel.
Alhamdulillah ☝️ pic.twitter.com/yEYzxuxv4y
– Khalid (Willi) Ott (@ WilliOtt4) April 24, 2022
–
