His Action Spreads Palestinian Flag Investigated By The Federation, Turkish Athletes: You Can Take My Title

Turkish Wushu Athlete Necmettin Erbakan Akyöz. (Instagram/@necmettinerbakanakyuz)

JAKARTA - Turkish Kungfu Champion Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, who raised the Palestinian flag when he became European champions some time ago, admitted that he did not regret his actions, although this is currently being investigated by the sports federation. The European Wushu Kungfu Federation (WKFE) announced that it had launched an "internal investigation" against "political demonstrations" reported during the award ceremony.

Akyuz, who won six martial arts championships, raised the Palestinian flag after being awarded a gold medal at the European Championships at the award ceremony. He also performed Dabke, a traditional Palestinian dance on the podium. The championship was held in Istanbul, Turkey on December 14-17, 2023.

"I'm proud of myself for the inconvenience I cause, I don't regret it, and if there is a chance, I will do it again," Akyuz said in an Instagram post.

"You can give me a penalty, withdraw my title, I don't care, I do it by risking the end of my sporting career," he continued.

Akyuz said the federation "has no humanity, has no conscience, no honor, no dignity," he criticized.

He also said on X: "The European Federation opened an investigation because my actions became the voice of the oppressed. I do not regret what I have done," he said.

"If I wave the Israeli flag there and not the Palestinian flag, (the federation) will not impose this punishment," he said Wednesday, quoted by Arab News.

"Opening investigations, lifting the title, issuing sanctions and withdrawing all the world and European titles I have. If you think you can scare me away with those things and make me step back, then you are really stupid," he said.