Pakistan’s cricket legend, Shahid Afridi, has denied allegations of supporting a Pro-Israel group after a photo of him with members of the North West Friends of Israel (NWFOI) went viral on social media. The photo was shared amid reports of heavy casualties in Gaza due to Israeli military actions.
The controversy began when the NWFOI, a Zionist group in the UK, posted a photo of Afridi with its members on social media. The caption read, “Pakistani international cricketer Shahid Afridi stopped to offer his support for our call to release the hostages at our NWFOI vigil last Sunday in Manchester. Shahid is pictured with NWFOI co-Chair Raphi Bloom and deputy Chair Bernie Yaffe. Thank you for your support, Shahid!”
Afridi quickly responded to the post, rejecting the claims and expressing his concern for the plight of Palestinians. He clarified that the photo was taken while he was walking in Manchester, and some individuals who claimed to be fans asked for a selfie. He emphasized that he did not endorse any political stance or agenda by taking the photo.
“Imagine strolling down a street in Manchester (UK) and so-called fans approach you for a selfie. You oblige, and moments later, they upload it as some form of Zionist endorsement. Unbelievable! Please don’t believe everything that is uploaded,” Afridi stated on his social media.
He also expressed his sorrow over the suffering in Palestine, saying, “Seeing innocent lives in Palestine suffer is truly heartbreaking. Thus, any photo or association shared in Manchester does not reflect my support for any situation where human lives are at stake.”
Imagine strolling down a street in Manchester (UK) and so-called fans approach you for a selfie. You oblige, and moments later, they upload it as some form of Zionist endorsement. Unbelievable! Please don't believe everything that is uploaded.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 19, 2024
Seeing innocent lives in Palestine…
Afridi, known for his philanthropy and peace advocacy, highlighted that he regularly takes photos with fans from around the world and that this encounter was no different. He called for an end to the conflict, stating, “I pray for peace, I pray for an end to this war, I pray for freedom.”
This incident comes against the backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 37,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces since October 17.
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