Real Madrid honours Palestine teen 'hero' Ahed Tamimi

Real Madrid honours Palestine teen 'hero' Ahed Tamimi

A teenage Palestinian activist, who became a protest icon after slapping an Israeli soldier and spending eight months in prison, has been honoured by Spanish football club Real Madrid.
1 min read
30 September, 2018
Tamimi's detention drew international condemnation [Twitter]

A teenage Palestinian activist, who became a protest icon after slapping an Israeli soldier and spending eight months in prison, has been honoured by Spanish football club Real Madrid.

Ahed Tamimi, 17, and her father were hosted by the football giants on Saturday at their stadium in the Spanish capital, Spanish media reported.

Tamimi was greeted by former striker Emilio Butragueno and presented with a personalised football jersey amid a tour of European countries.

Tamimi, who was 16 when she was arrested last December for hitting and kicking soldiers in front of her house in the occupied West Bank, was released in July.

Her confronting of the Israeli soldiers was recorded and went viral online.

Tamimi's detention drew international condemnation, putting Israel's treatment of Palestinians under the spotlight, especially Palestinian youths.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry's Arabic-language Twitter account lashed out at Real Madrid for the meeting.

"Tamimi incites violence against Israeli citizens. Honouring a terrorist who incites hatred and violence has nothing to do with the values of international football. Shame!"