German media compares Atlas Lions players' celebrations to Islamic state's gestures

A German media outlet compared the Moroccan men's football team's celebrations at the World Cup to the Islamic state's gestures, sparking outrage and controversy over the "Islamophobic" coverage of Morocco's victory.

In a news clip, a TV host for the popular German channel Welt claims that three Moroccan players, who posed smiling and raised their index finger post winning the Portugal match, were using a similar 'salute' used by members of the Islamic state.

The news segment further suggested that the Moroccan players' gesture had caused "irritation" in Germany.

The picture in question is of Moroccan players Zakaria Abouklal, Abdelhamid Sabiri, and Ilias Chair.

The three players posed with a Moroccan flag between them and raised their index fingers, a sign Muslims have used for decades as a celebratory reminder of the oneness of God and an affirmation of faith. 

The Moroccan-German player Abdelhamid Sabiri posted later a photo on Instagram of himself with the Palestinian flag draped around his shoulder while raising his index, accompanied by a one-word caption: "Freedom"

Die Bild und die taz hatten auch gute Chancen, aber der Preis für die widerlichste und gefährlichste Hetze geht an die Welt.

Marokko würde „mit Geste des Islamischen Staats“ posieren. Das ist Volksverhetzung und klassische Verschwörungstheorie.

Gehen wir den Unsinn kurz durch. pic.twitter.com/5U3NII8Rqq

— Tarek Baé (@Tarek_Bae) December 12, 2022

The news segment went viral on social media, sparking criticism of German media's incitement of hatred against the Atlas Lions and Muslims in Germany, where Islamophobic crimes soared in the past few years.

"I am fascinated every day by the extent to which German racism presents itself with its coverage of the World Cup," tweeted Germany-based journalist Hebh Jamal.

German journalist Tarek Baé argued that Welt’s coverage is another attempt by German media to demonise the winning Muslim team.

"People all over the world raise their index fingers in celebration. But only with Muslims, it should be terror. What do you call the picking out a group of people to be demonised?" tweeted Baé.

Welt's segment is not the first and only time a German media outlet has attacked the Moroccan team's celebrations at the Qatar World Cup.

Die Tageszeitung, one of Germany's most important daily newspapers, recently criticised the use of the Palestinian flag during the World Cup. 

The left-leaning liberal newspaper said brandishing the Palestinian flag during the games is a form of "orchestrated hostility towards Israel".

The Palestinian flag has accompanied the Moroccan team and fans since the start of the World Cup, becoming an amulet of luck and proof of anti-normalisation feelings in the North African kingdom.

Israeli media have also shown quite the discomfort vis-a-vis the presence of the Palestinian flag in the Atlas Lions' celebrations.

Eyal David, an Israeli envoy in Morocco, has claimed that Atlas Lions' solidarity with Palestine does not reflect Rabat's will. 

Moroccan officials have yet to react to the Israeli diplomat's comments. 

Rabat and Tel Aviv normalised ties late in 2020. Set to celebrate two years of 'friendship' on 22 this month, anti-normalisation feelings still reign supreme in the North African Kingdom.