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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Aug 11 2013
Turkish wrestler suspended six months for racist tweets
ISTANBUL ` Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey's Olympic medalist wrestler Rıza Kayaalp was given an
immediate suspension of six months by the International Federation of
Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) judge for his racist remarks
against Armenians and Greeks three weeks ago, an interview with FILA'S
President Nenad Lalovic revealed.
Kayaalp had targetted Greeks and Armenians in his tweets posted during
the Gezi Park unrest in Turkey started May 31 and rocked the country
nearly for two months.
European and World champion Kayaalp, who also won a bronze medal at
the Olympic Games in London last year, advocated that `Armenians' were
at the root of the Gezi protests, in a series of tweets he later
deleted.
His tweets included `You just leave the streets to Armenians, you
f**ing looters' and `F**k you traitors'.
FILA President Nenad Lalovic has told Greek daily Ekathimerini in an
exclusive interview on July 26 that Kayaalp was suspended for his
racist tweets from the international matchs.
`He was given an immediate suspension of six months by the FILA judge,
and he has the right to appeal. I do not know the exact details as I
do not interfere in such activities. We have a prosecutor and a judge.
The prosecutor informs the judge about what happens in such incidents.
I know this person, he is a young boy and a very good wrestler. I am
shocked that he has done this, but it may have been an emotional
moment for him, I am not sure that he really thinks that way. But I am
not here to judge, just to secure all the democratic procedures, the
eventual punishment and so on. The investigation goes on, there will
probably be a hearing, an appeal may be,' Lalovic said according to
the Kathimerini.
Kayaalp's tweets wereactually on the anti-government protests which
spread throughout the country in June after a police crackdown on a
group performing a sit-in against a controversial city center
renovation project.
He had deleted his tweets about the protesters, Armenians and Greeks
after a reactin from the social media.
Kayaalp had been picked to bear the Turkish flag during the opening
ceremony of last month's Mediterranean Games in Mersin and has also
featured in a public service announcement prepared by the Minister of
Youth and Sports.
August/11/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-wrestler-suspended-six-months-for-racist-tweets.aspx?pageID=238&nID=52320&NewsCatID=371
Aug 11 2013
Turkish wrestler suspended six months for racist tweets
ISTANBUL ` Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey's Olympic medalist wrestler Rıza Kayaalp was given an
immediate suspension of six months by the International Federation of
Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) judge for his racist remarks
against Armenians and Greeks three weeks ago, an interview with FILA'S
President Nenad Lalovic revealed.
Kayaalp had targetted Greeks and Armenians in his tweets posted during
the Gezi Park unrest in Turkey started May 31 and rocked the country
nearly for two months.
European and World champion Kayaalp, who also won a bronze medal at
the Olympic Games in London last year, advocated that `Armenians' were
at the root of the Gezi protests, in a series of tweets he later
deleted.
His tweets included `You just leave the streets to Armenians, you
f**ing looters' and `F**k you traitors'.
FILA President Nenad Lalovic has told Greek daily Ekathimerini in an
exclusive interview on July 26 that Kayaalp was suspended for his
racist tweets from the international matchs.
`He was given an immediate suspension of six months by the FILA judge,
and he has the right to appeal. I do not know the exact details as I
do not interfere in such activities. We have a prosecutor and a judge.
The prosecutor informs the judge about what happens in such incidents.
I know this person, he is a young boy and a very good wrestler. I am
shocked that he has done this, but it may have been an emotional
moment for him, I am not sure that he really thinks that way. But I am
not here to judge, just to secure all the democratic procedures, the
eventual punishment and so on. The investigation goes on, there will
probably be a hearing, an appeal may be,' Lalovic said according to
the Kathimerini.
Kayaalp's tweets wereactually on the anti-government protests which
spread throughout the country in June after a police crackdown on a
group performing a sit-in against a controversial city center
renovation project.
He had deleted his tweets about the protesters, Armenians and Greeks
after a reactin from the social media.
Kayaalp had been picked to bear the Turkish flag during the opening
ceremony of last month's Mediterranean Games in Mersin and has also
featured in a public service announcement prepared by the Minister of
Youth and Sports.
August/11/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-wrestler-suspended-six-months-for-racist-tweets.aspx?pageID=238&nID=52320&NewsCatID=371