Azeem Rafiq ‘ashamed’ after historic anti-Semitic exchange comes to light
Azeem Rafiq has admitted he is “ashamed” of anti-Semitic remarks that he manufactured in a textual content exchange with a fellow Asian player back in 2011.
Rafiq, whose testimony just before a parliamentary pick committee this week has forced English cricket to confront accusations of institutional racism, added in a statement issued via Twitter that he experienced “certainly no excuses” for his steps.
The exchange, involving the previous Leicestershire cricketer Ateeq Javid, seems to centre around a 3rd Asian player, then taking part in for Derbyshire, who was hesitant to devote money on a food.
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“Hahaha he is a Jew,” Rafiq joked. “Probs go immediately after my 2nds once more ha … Only Jews do tht type of shit”.
In reaction, Rafiq wrote: “I was despatched an picture of this exchange from early 2011 currently. I have absent back to test my account and it is me. I have certainly no excuses.
“I am ashamed of this exchange and have now deleted it so as not to lead to further more offence. I was 19 at the time and I hope and believe I am a distinctive man or woman currently. I am extremely indignant at myself and I apologise to the Jewish group and all people who is rightly offended by this.”
Rafiq’s admission follows the latest suspension of Yorkshire’s head coach, Andrew Gale, pursuing his have use of the anti-Semitic slur “Y*d” in a Twitter exchange in 2010.
Responding to his publish, Marie van der Zyl, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told PA: Marie reported: “Azeem Rafig has experienced terribly at the arms of racists in cricket so he will properly fully grasp the harm this exchange will lead to to Jews who have supported him. His apology surely appears to be heartfelt and we have no rationale to believe he is not completely sincere.”
Speaking in the wake of his testimony, Rafiq admitted that he was “not perfect”, but that “almost nothing excuses racism”.
“At no point will I ever check out and protect the indefensible,” he later added on Twitter. “For people I have harm I am sincerely sorry. I will continue to entrance up & have any a lot more blunders I have manufactured.”
