Fighter calls Afghan opponent a ‘terrorist’ during Dana White’s Contender Series face-off

Israel’s Oron Kahlon called Afghanistan’s Javid Basharat a “terrorist” ahead of their scheduled bout at Dana White’s Contender Series 45.

The incident took place during the ceremonial weigh-ins on Monday afternoon. Kahlon missed weight for his bantamweight bout with Basharat, registering at 139 pounds. He was fined 20 percent of his purse, though the bout was expected to go on as scheduled.

However, as the two fighters faced off in the ceremonial face-off at the fighters hotel, Basharat appeared to decline his opponent’s handshake. They exchanged words before turning to face the camera, which was when Kahlon could be heard saying the word “terrorist.”

Though Basharat did not react at the time, he took to Instagram to share his thoughts on his opponent’s taunt, stating: “This p***y wanted a way out by missing weight by 3 pounds. I told him I’m gonna still whoop his arse, he then called me a terrorist. Wanted a reaction again he wanted a way out. Unlucky for him I ain’t going nowhere! I’m waiting to see him tomorrow.”

Following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the original regime in November 2001, the Taliban—a designated terrorist organization—regrouped and began taking back territory less than ten years after their ouster. By August 2021, the Taliban had seized most major cities, emboldened by President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan as outlined in a 2020 peace agreement with the Taliban. Facing little resistance, the Taliban captured Kabul and quickly created a council to facilitate the transition to a Taliban-run Islamic government.

Despite promising a more “inclusive government this time around, the Taliban’s interim government wasted little time imposing strict measures on society, which include harassing and threatening women based on arbitrary dress codes, and setting limitations on women in workplaces such as government and educational institutions. Schools have been reopened for boys only, while afghan women have also been banned from participating in sports.

The takeover also pressured the last remaining member of Afghanistan’s Jewish community—a who lived in a dilapidated synagogue in Kabul—to leave the country. He joined the tens of thousands of Afghans who fled their homeland since the Taliban takeover.