Standing for women’s rights
Liverpool and Egypt striker, Mohamed Salah, was named among the 100 most influential figures of 2019, according to TIME magazine. The athlete, who is arguably the most famous man in the Arab world, called for a change in the way women are treated in the region.
During his interview with the American magazine, Mohamed revealed that even though his attitude towards gender equality had evolved over the years, he would still like to see more change. “I think we need to change the way we treat women in our culture. It’s not optional.” The 26-year-old was quoted as saying that the treatment of women in his culture in the Middle East has changed his opinion on gender issues.
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“I support the woman more than I did before, because I feel like she deserves more than what they give her now, at the moment,” Mohamed said. The footballer’s rise to fame has been gradual as he has played for major clubs in Switzerland, England and Italy. But it was his incredible debut season last year with Liverpool that took the striker to new highs. That and the fact that he helped Egypt qualify for the 2018 World Cup, their first since 1990.
In TIME magazines prestigious list, Mohamed was part of the Titans section, and was covered by late night host, John Oliver. In his piece, the English comedian wrote:”Mo Salah is a better human being than he is a football player. And he’s one of the best football players in the world.”
He went on to mention Mohamed’s humbleness despite his success and the pressure that comes with being who he is. “Mo is an iconic figure for Egyptians, Scousers and Muslims the world over, and yet he always comes across as a humble, thoughtful, funny man who isn’t taking any of this too seriously.”
Watch his video interview here:
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