Turkish Kung Fu player investigated over Palestine flag at award show
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Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, a six-time championship holder in Kung Fu, holds up a Palestinian flag after being presented with the European Championship gold medal.
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Turkish Kung Fu player Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz holds up the Palestinian flag at the European Wushu Kungfu Championship championship. (neakyuz/X)
A Turkish martial artist is being investigated after displaying the flag of Palestine during the European Wushu Kungfu Championship, as confirmed by Continental Europe's federation for wushu kung fu.
Organized by the Wushu Kungfu Federation of Europe (WKFE), the championship was hosted in Istanbul in December 2023 when Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, the six-time championship holder in the martial art, held up a Palestinian flag after being presented with the European Championship's gold medal.
Turkish Kung Fu champion Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz performs the traditional folk dance "dabke" and holds the Palestinian flag in solidarity with #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/KU2mM6vnOq
— Radar Africa (@radarafricacom) December 17, 2023
A WKFE statement reads, "Political displays were reported during the prize-giving ceremonies, reportedly initiated by individual members associated with the TWF (Turkish Wushu Kung Fu Federation). Immediate measures were taken on-site, including personal meetings and official protests to strongly contest these occurrences. Such actions do not align with our values and standards within the WKFE community."
Read next: Gaza 'Freedom Flotilla' blocked in Turkey
Furthermore, it revealed that an internal investigation has been opened to "examine these incidents, seeking clarity and understanding thoroughly. This inquiry aims to identify any shortcomings and enable the implementation of necessary measures. The findings will be consolidated into a comprehensive report."
In light of that, Akyuz said in a video statement on X: "I am proud of myself for the inconvenience I caused, I do not regret it, and if I have the opportunity, I will do it again."
Ben Necmettin Erbakan Akyüz
— Necmettin Erbakan Akyüz (@neakyuz) April 29, 2024
Madalyaların en güzelini aldım
Mazlumların sesi olmak adına yaptığım hareketten dolayı Avrupa Federasyonu soruÅŸturma açtı
Yaptıklarımdan dolayı piÅŸman deÄŸilim, verilecek kararlarım nezdimde hiçbir kıymeti yoktur.
NEHÄ°RDEN DENÄ°ZE ÖZGÜR FÄ°LÄ°STÄ°N 🇵🇸. pic.twitter.com/Jpo8yjEnP1
"You can punish me, you can take away my championships. I don't care, I did it by risking the end of my sports career," he stressed.
This follows a stabbing yesterday by a Turkish tourist in Bab al-Sahira in occupied al-Quds, leaving an Israeli occupation soldier injured. The martyr, Hasan Saklanan, was instantly killed by the nearby forces.
