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 championship’s Instagram account, the wrestler appeared before the start of his match once morest 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 chanted, “Freedom for Palestine.”
On his Instagram account, Ott wrote: “You will never be forgotten, Sabra and Shatila (1982), the first genocide following World War II.”
The Austrian wrestler, the mixed martial arts champion Ott, is known for his continuous solidarity with the Palestinian cause and his keenness to shed light on it in his various matches.
And last April, Ott dedicated his victory in a match in the “Vandita for Night” tournament in the Austrian capital Vienna to the Palestinian people, by raising the Palestinian flag on his shoulders and waving it in the wrestling ring, while chanting: “God is great! Palestine is free!”.
Ott was also known for his defense of Muslim causes in general, as he earlier criticized the West’s handling of Russia’s war on Ukraine, compared to its dealings with Arab issues.
Ott took the name “Khaled” instead of “Wilhelm” following converting to Islam regarding two years ago.
On September 16, the 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 said to be pro-Israel.
Alhamdulillah ☝️ pic.twitter.com/yEYzxuxv4y
— Khalid (Willi) Ott (@WilliOtt4) April 24, 2022
