Berlin: German football club Mainz has terminated the contract of Dutch forward Anwar Al Ghazi following his social media posts in support of Gaza and criticism of Israel's actions against Hamas. Ghazi's contract was terminated with immediate effect, and he had been previously suspended for his controversial social media activity.
German prosecutors have also revealed that Ghazi is under suspicion for allegedly promoting hatred and disturbing public peace through his posts on Instagram. In his social media messages, Ghazi had used slogans associated with the terrorist organization Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel.
Mainz had initially suspended Ghazi after he posted a controversial message related to the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 17. However, he later deleted the post, and his suspension was lifted on October 30, following a conversation with the club's management. Ghazi expressed regret over the negative impact of his initial post and stated that he did not question Israel's right to exist.
However, on November 1, Ghazi reignited the controversy by reiterating his support for Gaza and Hamas, contradicting his earlier statement of regret. He wrote, "I have no regrets about my position. I am not recusing myself from what I said. I will stand against humanity and the oppressed today and always, until my last breath."
Anwar Al Ghazi, who previously played for clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa, and Everton, joined Mainz as a free agent in September 2023. He made three appearances as a substitute for the team, with his last appearance in the Bundesliga. Mainz decided to terminate his contract due to his continued controversial statements on social media.
The slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is associated with Hamas and its allies and is used to advocate for the destruction of Israel. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by various countries, including the United States, the European Union, and Israel.
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