This Worker At The Olympics Was Reportedly Fired After He Said "Free Palestine" To Israeli Fans
The Olympics organizers said in a statement that Hassan was removed from his shift as there was a clear violation of the code of conduct for its staff and contractors.
A retail worker at a store at the Milan Cortina Olympics was removed from his shift and reportedly fired after saying “free Palestine” to Israeli fans, sparking new controversy about freedom of speech at the Olympics.
A video shared on Instagram on Friday, Feb. 13, by a group called StopAntisemitism showed a woman, who was filming, telling the employee in a store in Cortina sliding center to “Say it again.”
“Free Palestine. What’s the problem?” the worker, later identified as Ali Mohamed Hassan, replied as a man holding an Israeli flag walked out of the store.
"This is the Olympics. Israel is allowed to compete like any other country," the woman said.
The Olympics organizers said in a statement that Hassan was removed from his shift as there was a clear violation of the code of conduct for its staff and contractors, “which clearly specifies that during service expressing political opinions is not permitted in order to preserve the strict neutrality of the Games.”
“Milano Cortina 2026 remains committed to maintaining a neutral, respectful and welcoming environment for all,” it added. "Those involved were reassured, and the individual concerned was removed from the shift."
Hassan was reportedly also fired, according to StopAntisemitism.
While pro-Israel fans praised the organizers’ decision, the incident caused a renewed debate over freedom of speech at the Olympics.
Days earlier, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Olympics for wearing a helmet with the photos of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia’s war in Ukraine..
However, during the opening ceremony, Israeli skeleton athlete Jared Firestone had worn a kippah emblazoned with the names of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered in the 1972 Munich Olympics attack.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also allowed Israel to compete in the Olympics despite the country’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, saying Israel has not breached the Olympic charter, according to AP.
The IOC, however, has suspended Russia from joining the Olympics since 2023 for breaking the Olympic charter by annexing territories in eastern Ukraine.
Only Russian athletes who are given neutral status are allowed to compete without their national identity, flag, anthem and colors.
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