Abdelrahman Sameh, the Egyptian swimmer who received death threats

Egyptian swimmer Abdelrahman Sameh won gold in the 50 m butterfly at the second leg of the Swimming World Cup, in Athens. Clocking 23s04, he finished well clear of Australia's Isaac Cooper (23.19) and America's Michael Andrew (23s32). Despite the fine win, Sameh did not want to celebrate it. He said he had received death threats over the past week in response to his outspoken support on social media for the Palestinians in their ongoing conflict with Israel.

"Honestly, I don't know if I can celebrate this," he said. "It's been a really difficult week mentally for me. I've received death threats. People have been attacking me all week because I support Palestine. My family goes to sleep not knowing whether I'll wake up or whether someone will break into my apartment, and every time I don't answer a call they must wonder: 'Is he busy, or is someone trying to kill him?'" Sameh added: "I don't know if I should celebrate this right now. My brothers and sisters are being killed in Palestine (and I'm being threatened) just for the cause I stand for."

In solidarity with Palestine, Egyptian Swimmer Abdelrahman Sameh (Abdelrahman Elaraby) Rejects Celebration after Winning Gold At the 2023 World Aquatic Swimming World Cup#Egypt #Palestine #MiddleEast #Israel #GAZA | #مصر #فلسطين #إسرائيل #غزة #عبد_الرحمن_سامح #عبدالرحمن_سامح pic.twitter.com/LZrJcBdib0

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) October 16, 2023

One of Sameh's posts on social media was a political cartoon contrasting the different reactions to Ukraine's actions against Russia and to Palestine's actions against Israel. Sameh defended his support for Palestine in an Instagram post a few days ago, saying he had been "unfairly labelled and accused of promoting terrorism." The Pharaoh maintains that he campaigns for peace. "I am not anti-Jewish and I do not condone violence or the loss of innocent lives on both sides of this conflict."