Sport
EXCLUSIVE: Mental Health Charity To Review Azeem Rafiq’s Ambassador Role In Light Of Antisemitic Texts
A CHARITY that hired former cricketer Azeem Rafiq has condemned antisemitism and announced that they will be ‘reviewing’ their ambassadors programme.
Rafiq, who hit headlines last week after exposing shocking acts of racism he had encountered during his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, has been labelled a hypocrite, after text messages containing racist tropes against Jews was leaked to the press.
In the exchange, Rafiq and fellow cricketer Ateeq Javid (who has so far seemingly escaped public outrage) mocked the Jewish community and referenced centuries-old antisemitic conspiracies relating to wealth, with Javid going as far as to use the term ‘Jew shit’.
Issuing an apology, the former cricketer said:
“I was sent an image of this exchange from early 2011 today. I have gone back to check my account and it is me – I have absolutely no excuses.
“I am ashamed of this exchange and have now deleted it so as not to cause further offence. I was 19 at the time and I hope and believe I am a different person today. I am incredibly angry at myself and I apologise to the Jewish community and everyone who is rightly offended by this.”
While the press were focused on Rafiq’s initial complaints of racism he’d experienced, British charity ‘MQ – Mental Health Research’ proudly announced that they had hired the cricketer into their ambassador program. Since VoteWatch enquired whether they will continue to work with Rafiq following recent revelations, the charity deleted a tweet welcoming him, telling VoteWatch’s Jay Beecher:
“Racist, antisemitic or otherwise discriminatory language and abuse is damaging both to individuals and wider society.
“The impact to mental health can be severe.”
“At MQ we are passionate about breaking down systems of inequality in the field of mental health research, diagnosis and treatment. We are currently reviewing our ambassadors programme in light of recent news” they added.
Members of the public are now calling for Azeem Rafiq to return the £200,000 he received in compensation, or to donate it to a charity fighting antisemitism.
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