Sunday, August 11, 2024

Afghan Refugee Olympian Disqualified For Protest

Manizha Talash, an Olympic break dance competitor in Paris, was disqualified for displaying a cape with “Free Afghan Women” clearly visible. Talash, also known as ‘b-girl Talash’ is an Afghan refugee living in Spain, and a member of the Olympic Refugee Team.

She “seized the moment,” wrote Jordan Baker in The Sydney Morning Herald.


4refugeewomen on Instagram called Talash’s protest: “A brave and powerful statement from the Refugee Olympics Team, B-girl Manizha Talash.”


Regardless of whether we support her stance or not (many do as the Taliban in Afghanistan is well-known for suppressing women’s rights), Olympic rules prohibit political displays and protests. Although the International Olympic Committee only issued a warning, Talash’s action prompted the World DanceSport Federation to announce that she "was disqualified for displaying a political slogan on her attire during the Pre-Qualifier battle," as reported by the French newspaper Le Monde. 


Yahoo Sports noted that Talash’s protest violated Rule 50, which states: "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympics sites, venues or other areas."

 

Talash’s protest is reminiscent of the controversial Tommie Smith/John Carlos protest during the 1968 Mexico Summer Olympics. Many were outraged when Smith and Carlos, two American medal-winning sprinters, displayed black gloves, black socks, and raised fists during the American National Anthem in their medal ceremony. Smith later characterized their actions as a “human rights salute,” in what amounts to a similar protest as Talash’s gesture. 

 

Smith and Carlos were removed from the U.S. team and banned from the Olympic village (the U.S. team was reluctant to take this action, however they were compelled to do so under threat from the International Olympic Committee.) The two faced backlash for years after the event. 

 

In contrast, Talash’s protest received a measure of support, as evidenced by this tweet from Habib Khan, founder of Afghan Peace Watch and a former Wall Street Journal writer: 

“Afghan women, bearing the brunt of Taliban tyranny, show
 incredible resilience. Manizha Talash’s Olympic debut, marked by her cape and a powerful statement, symbolizes hope amid personal loss and Taliban threats.” 

“Women’s rights are so important and they’re really under threat in Afghanistan,” said Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, aka B-Girl Raygun, in Baker’s Sydney Herald piece. “It’s really important that we bring light to this issue and we try to support the people that are really suffering under some really toxic, dangerous regimes.”

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Larry Manch is an author, teacher, guitar player, freelance writer, and columnist. He has written 24 books; available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.

 

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