During the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships held in Saudi Arabia, an Iranian weightlifter sparked attention by raising a banner reading 'War Crimes in Minab' immediately after his performance. The act quickly spread on social media, drawing interest from media and human rights organizations.
According to local sources, Minab is a port city in southern Iran that has suffered airstrikes and fierce fighting amid regional conflict. The athlete, noted for his competitive achievements, accuses that attacks on Minab caused heavy civilian casualties and destroyed civilian infrastructure, violating international humanitarian law.
The Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has not yet issued an official comment on the incident. However, many athletes and sports officials from various countries have expressed both support and concern that the action may be seen as violating the principle of political neutrality in sports. This event occurs amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, turning international sports competitions into stages for political messages.
Representatives of the Iranian delegation at the event have not confirmed the athlete's identity but affirmed the 'right to speak for justice' of the team member. International human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into the war crimes allegations related to Minab.
