The image of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and his family in front of a Christmas tree has spurred hate-filled responses on social media. Image:Twitter@MoSalah
LFC’s Muslim star Salah blasted with hate-filled replies after posting family Christmas wishes
Salah has scored 16 goals in 21 appearances for Liverpool this season, and typically performs sujud, the Islamic act of prostration, after each of his goals.
The image of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and his family in front of a Christmas tree has spurred hate-filled responses on social media. Image:Twitter@MoSalah
Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has been subjected to fierce online anger from fans seemingly unhappy that the Muslim star and his family shared a Christmas message.
Salah, 28, posted images to his social media following of more than 50 million featuring himself and his family dressed in festive attire sitting in front of a Christmas tree, adding two emojis and the hashtag #MerryChristmas.
Salah’s Instagram post racked up more than 2.3 million likes while his Twitter message with the same pictures was liked more than 245,000 times.
“As a Muslim, we should not celebrate or even congratulate other religions in their celebrates that’s all,” read one reply.
However, the positivity of Salah’s message was overshadowed by those who angrily asserted that the Muslim star should not be seen celebrating Christmas.
“That’s why [Arsenal and Egypt player] Mohammed Elneny is the Egyptian king & not u,” read another spite-filled response.
Today You are a Christian and tomorrow you are Muslim. You will explain this to ur creator,” said another vicious retort.
“People need to realize we don’t hate Christmas but being supportive of it is a major sin in Islam. It’s basically shirk!!” fumed another.
“It is not permissible to celebrate the holidays of the infidels,” read another comment in Arabic.
“This is why I love ufc BROTHER KHABIB the most from all the famous MUSLIM stars… He never COMPROMISES his deen Alhamdulillah… Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas but you all can enjoy yours… We have our EID ….,” wrote another person, referring to Russian UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is also Muslim.
The barrage of criticism, though, saw some netizens hit back with sharp counters.
“There are people dying of hunger, shot in wars, unspeakable atrocities..but God will be like lemme holler at Salah for wearing a Christmas outfit,” said one.
And another shot back with a sarcastic response.
Many, however, defended Salah’s message of peace and love, with one person writing: “If you’re crying under this tweet pls cry in English. Save us the stress of translating.”
“I live in Dubai and Xmas trees in all the malls, Xmas songs in all the shops, Xmas markets everywhere and that’s in a Muslim country, imagine that but intensified times 100 in the UK, is he really gonna deprive his daughter of all that joy & happiness her friends are experiencing?” read another.
