RIGHTS groups and gym enthusiasts have launched a campaign calling for the release of a popular Bahraini bodybuilder who has been detained by Qatari authorities.
Sami Al Haddad and his friends were picked up by the Qatari coast guard during a fishing trip on Saturday in the Arabian Gulf.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry last night “strongly condemned” the incident and called for Mr Haddad’s immediate release.
Mr Haddad was on a fishing cruise with a number of his companions in the Bahraini territorial waters, the ministry said.
It urged Qatari authorities to “immediately release Mr Haddad and his companions, and to stop attacking Bahraini fishermen at sea and unfairly arresting them”.
State broadcaster Bahrain Television termed the incident “a violation of human rights and agreements signed during the recent GCC summit.”
Mr Al Haddad is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) PRO bodybuilder who has won international championships including the Mr Olympia amateur winner in 2011.
His detention triggered a strong response yesterday from rights groups and Bahrain’s gym owners.
Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) called on Doha to release the Bahraini athlete and even launched a hashtag #FreeSami that was trending on Twitter.
“We have dashed off a letter to IFBB president demanding Qatar to release Bahrain’s bodybuilding champion,” BHRWS secretary general Faisal Fulad told the GDN.
“It appears his crime was going on a sea fishing trip with his friends.”
Mr Fulad said athletes are globally-respected as sports is practised freely without any discrimination.
“BHRWS requests athletes from around the world to urge IFBB to take action against Qatar.”
Bahraini Abdulla Al Murbati, who owns three gyms, said they stand in solidarity with the bodybuilding champion.
“Some of our staff carried placards with Sami’s photograph demanding his release,” he said.
Owner of Ghassan Sports Centre in Ramli Mall Ghassan Al Gosaibi told the GDN that the arrest of Mr Al Haddad is ‘regrettable and shocking’, especially with moves to improve relationships following the 41st GCC summit last week.
The international professional bodybuilder made history in 2018 by winning the gold medal in the IFBB Pro Spain.
Following this, he was presented the first passport to be given to a citizen with “professional athlete” listed as a profession by His Majesty King Hamad.
Mr Al Haddad continued his winning streak as in 2019 he won a silver medal in IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro.
This made him the only Arab professional to have won 15 coloured medals in his professional career in eight years (five gold, nine silver and one bronze), which is an unprecedented tally at the Arab level.
Bahrain along with other Gulf countries, including Qatar, signed the AlUla agreement last week during the 41st summit in Saudi Arabia.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani during a Press conference on Friday praised the breakthrough in the Gulf crisis with Doha and stressed they back a dialogue with all parties to address challenges.
Bahrain’s Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa last month said “Qataris had targeted 2,153 individuals and 560 Bahrain-registered boats from 2010 to 2020 that affected their livelihoods.”
GDN has launched a campaign #FreeSami_GDNsays, urging readers and visitors to our online platforms to have their voice heard by the Qatari authorities.
We urge YOU to
• SHARE and LIKE on GDNLife using the hashtag #FreeSami_GDNsays
• SHARE and LIKE on Facebook using the hashtag #FreeSami_GDNsays
• REPOST and LIKE on Instagram using the hashtag #FreeSami_GDNsays
• RETWEET and LIKE on Twitter using the hashtag #FreeSami_GDNsays
• And even use our campaign logo as your profile picture
Also, share your thoughts about the #FreeSami_GDN campaign by emailing letters@gdn.com.bh
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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