A British boxer has been subject to a torrent of anti-Muslim sentiment on social media after he shared a photo of him praying in a Dubai mosque.
Anthony Joshua, the current International Boxing Federation heavyweight world champion, tweeted the picture earlier this week while on a visit to the UAE.
Besides luck, hard work & talent.. Prayer is a solid foundation. It was nice to join my brother as he led through afternoon prayer (asr) pic.twitter.com/KJ4f2lu3mP
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) January 17, 2017
The boxer, from Watford, just north of London, was subjected to a torrent of religiously motivated hatred in reaction to his tweet.
@TRobinsonNewEra @anthonyfjoshua He is a disgrace doing that. From a fellow Watford man, he has let us down. I won't be cheering for him.
— michael lawlor (@michaellawlorl1) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua pic.twitter.com/4XXjdLKaDs
— LordHoratioNelson (@LordHNelson) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY RIGHT NOW @MRSMAY DEPORT THIS MUSLAMIC
— Terry Johnson (@CFC_EDL) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR YOUR FIGHTS AGAIN YOUVE JOINED THE DEATH CULT
— John "smasher" Davis (@EDLjohndavis) January 17, 2017
Tommy Robinson, the former leader of racist protest organization the English Defence League also launched an attack on Joshua, insulting him in a series of tweets. He later defended his comments in an expletive-filled video which accused Islam of promoting hatred.
However, many other Twitter users came out in defense of the Olympic gold medalist, and the post has been liked 30,000 times since it was put up on Tuesday.
@RightWingerRoy @AlfieQuadir @anthonyfjoshua he may loses 100000 fans , but he wins are our hearts, muslims's heart dude ,3 billion people!
— ADAHABI (@Abdeldahbi13) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua mentions are a joke. Funny how you don't see Muslims slagging off Tyson Fury for praying to Jesus. Let people be.
— Pablo (@AFCAMDEN) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua to all the people hating. Muhammad Ali was a Muslim and the greatest of all time, do you guys hate him as well??
— Naz (@n42imrashid) January 17, 2017
@anthonyfjoshua Dear Muslims, sorry about the morons disrespecting your religion. I bet not 1 of them could name the 5 pillars without Googling. Luv from UK
— ExerciseClassesKiddy (@ECKidderminster) January 17, 2017
It is not clear whether Joshua has in fact converted to Islam. The 27-year-old has previously said that he does not practice any religion, but is interested in them, according to the Daily Mail.
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