Aramean People Stand in Solidarity with Sweden Midfielder Jimmy Durmaz After Racial Abuse
- Post 27 June 2018
Sweden’s Jimmy Durmaz was racially abused on social media for conceding the free-kick that led to Germany’s last minute winner in the World Cup in Sochi on Saturday 23 June 2018. The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) strongly condemns racism and supports the midfielder, who stated that he was born to Aramean parents from Turkey and Lebanon.
Durmaz gave away the free-kick in the 95th-minute that led to the victory of reigning champion Germany. As a result, he was disproportionately blamed for Sweden’s loss and received numerous online insults, racist comments and even death threats directed to him, his children and his family.
Race discrimination is not the nature of sports and should be banned from all levels. In particular, the fans, who are the twelfth player of a team, should embody and promote the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play. Those subjecting Durmaz to racist abuses seem to have forgotten his goal against France in the World Cup qualifier match on 6 September 2017. Not only did it lead Sweden to the FIFA World Cup 2018, but Durmaz is now heroically defeating racism in Sweden.
WCA President Johny Messo declares: “We strongly condemn all hatred and verbal violence, especially the death threats are unacceptable. We stand in full solidarity with Jimmy and support his powerful statement against racism the day after the game that was backed by his coach and teammates. However, we do expect security and safety to be ensured for him and his family upon his return to Sweden, in addition to calling upon the FIFA to help Jimmy defeat racism.”
WCA and all its Members Federations representing Arameans worldwide are very proud of the first young Aramean who has participated in a FIFA World Cup. Moreover, Jimmy has made millions of Swedes happy and proud, including those who are targeting him now online, by scoring a goal that enabled Sweden to partake in FIFA 2018. WCA stands with Jimmy with full support and solidarity.
Durmaz (born 22 March 1989) plays for the French club Toulouse. On his Instagram account, he recently shared a video where he explains that he is part of the Aramean (Syriac) people and that his parents left Turkey and Lebanon for Sweden.
As a stateless people, the Arameans are indigenous to Southeast Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. They still speak their 3,000-year-old Aramaic mother tongue, which is widely known as the language of Jesus. For more information, see www.wca-ngo.org.
Click here to download the Press Release in PDF.
Photo: imago/Bildbyran
