From being a critic to becoming the exclusive coach of the “Navaaza” section of the Iranian national judo team, it has been a long and difficult journey for Jacob Najari. He himself says that he started judo in the early years of the 1960s and from the beginning, he was a critic who spoke his mind without any ulterior motives, saying what he believed was right. Najari is now being threatened for this. In a conversation with the peace line, he says, “Someone called me on the phone and said that there may not be a tomorrow for you and you may never see your children again! And it’s possible that the last words you say to someone who passes by and asks for your address will be your answer to them.”

Jacob Najari is a first-class coach of the Iranian Judo Federation, holder of a 7th degree black belt in judo in Iran, former head coach of the university team and former specialized coach in the

You can read the detailed conversation about the peace agreement with Ya’qub Najari below:

What happened that you left the country? As a top coach of Iran’s judo, what led you to leave the country?

You raised the issue of age and fake IDs for judo athletes. Is this a common practice in the Judo Federation or other federations, or does it happen specifically in these cases? Because this is actually a violation.

Routine is an order that should be followed within the framework of the law. When there is a violation, it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. This happens sometimes. Where do we have the birth certificate violation? We don’t have it in adults. This violation always happens in youth and junior and hope competitions. In these three areas, in various sports such as football, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, etc., it happens. It also depends on management. If the management is right, it won’t do such a thing as sending its youth national team as a junior national team to the field to win four medals in Asia, just to create a launching pad for itself and to increase its fake score. If a mature and forward-thinking coach is present, they will never do this. They try to strengthen the foundations so that such an incident never happens. This is a violation.

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Absolutely not! Do you know that when you are with national teams outside the country, there are always two or three security guards with you? Why should it be like this? Isn’t it a sports team? It’s not a business team that you should be worried about breaking the rules or something happening. Why should security guards go with the team? What is the duty of the security guard to come and distract you in another country, when all your thoughts are focused on the competition, losing weight, and worrying about winning a medal and standing on the podium for your country? For example, did you pray with the group during noon prayers or not? Or did you participate in prayer and supplication at the hotel or not? If you don’t participate in these sessions, they will give you negative points and when you return to Iran, you will be banned for six months. When I went to the international competitions in Baku, I was banned for six months because I didn’t participate in these

Is your private lifestyle in Iran also monitored by officials and security forces, apart from competitions?

100%. Those who listened to their words, buttoned their shirts all the way to the top, had a beard, did not lift their hair up and to one side, were definitely noticed. Those who had the appearance of Basiji types or did such styling were dear. Those whose appearance was not like that or were not willing to style themselves were treated differently. In my opinion, when you don’t accept something with all your heart and soul, it becomes difficult to style yourself for anyone. Styling was not our job and we couldn’t do it.

Well, what would happen when they saw you with a type, appearance or behavior that did not match their standards?

They called us the team of misfits and thugs. They would say to us, “Why are you guys like this? For example, when we were on the national team training camp, they would ask us, “Why don’t you go visit the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini?” “Why do you turn a deaf ear?” “You’re only hurting yourselves!” And yes, we were hurting ourselves. How? If we had gone there and prayed and sent blessings together, we would have definitely won the Asian Games. But when you can’t put on a show, when you can’t grow a beard and wear your collar up and hold a rosary and just say yes and nod along, then you’re out of the Asian Games. You were in the training camp for six months, you worked hard, you were fixed to be on the national team, the Japanese coach confirmed that I was fixed to be on the national team, they said no, he hasn’t been confirmed

What you are saying means that these types of interactions have a direct impact on the athletic performance of the athlete. This means that the interactions are not sports-related and are completely non-sports related. You also mentioned issues of unfairness and sports violations in your discussions. I want to see how this happens and what relevance it has to the conduct of security and their issues.

Yes, there were certainly 100% unfairnesses. They would give orders to the referee. If the referee was a sell-out, if the referee was their own, if the referee was someone who favored their words, they were afraid of their own position being in danger, they would say, for example, be careful in that race. You are the referee and whatever decision you make is final. We are also the committee of referees and we approve. No one can say anything. This happens to everyone. It has happened many times to many of our friends. Although we say that we should always respect the referee’s decision. But we have referees to be referees! A referee who has no animosity towards anyone can also make mistakes.

How was the categorization among athletes, managers, and officials?

We were basically two groups. One group that was with the federation. Yes and of course the sacrifices of the federation and the agents of the federation, their type and clothing and behaviors, were all clear. Everyone knew that Mr. So-and-so was a member of the federation. The second group was us, who were against the federation. We never did what the federation dictated. For example, I, who was used to wearing a T-shirt or jeans, styling my hair, or using gel, couldn’t suddenly put my hair down, button up my collar, and hold a rosary in my hand! This was not acceptable to me at all. I can say that more than ninety percent of the judo community is against the federation. But when that ten percent has the power, there’s nothing you can do. You have to keep quiet in many places and do what you’re told. We even used to tell the kids not to chase after one or two points on the mat,

Were the national team players given prizes and financial rewards? What was the situation with these awards and the treatment of the governing system?

I will tell you what has happened to me. The international competition of the Heydar Aliyev Cup in Azerbaijan, which is now like the Grand Slam and Grand Prix, was held with the participation of 47 or 48 countries. I had been selected as a fixed member of the national team, but they crossed my name off and said that the organization has not approved your security and you cannot go to the competition. I had been in training camp for two months and had won six matches. But when I protested, they said it’s not up to you and when the security and organization don’t allow it, we can’t do anything. Every door I knocked on was useless. I said I will personally go and compete. I bought my own ticket for the national team flight. I went on the same flight. I stayed in the dormitory where the kids were staying. I participated in the same competition. In the final of the competition, the second place that was taken by me

Does it mean that the coach is so skilled that he can do these things?

When the head coach is also the secretary of the federation, when the president of the federation is working with himself, when the organization gives awards to the president of the federation and you know that this is, for example, one hundred coins for your athletes. Give it as you see fit. There is also a list for receipt and signature. But many people sign it themselves without being asked! When the organization is from themselves, the president, the national team manager, the supervision and all the factors are coordinated with themselves, do you think raising five, ten or twenty coins is a big deal?!

A serious discussion, a game of debate with Israeli opponents. Is avoiding competition with these opponents a written law or a procedure?

This is not a written law, but as you mentioned, it is a procedure that has been adopted. We know that this unwritten rule was established by Ali Akbar Valaati in 1983, following the wrestling match between an Iranian and an Israeli athlete at the World Wrestling Championships in Kiev, Ukraine. After that match, he, who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, called the national team coach in the middle of the night, urging him to bring the national team back to Iran as soon as possible. According to Majid Takkan’s memories, who was the world champion at the time and a member of the Iranian national team in the 52 kg weight class, he says that he had lost 8 kg of weight and was supposed to compete in the morning, but we woke up at the airport and returned to Tehran. No one told us what happened. After all the hard work, training, and weight loss, why did we come back? Because Mr. Bijan

So the question here is, what do we call this in English for an athlete? Is it a persuasive approach or through force and intimidation? How is this issue dealt with?

The encounter with the athlete is completely forceful. They are threatening him and his family that he can never compete against an Israeli athlete. For example, in the London Olympics, Mr. Javad Mahjoub was supposed to compete. In the draw before the Olympics, it was revealed that he was in a group where if he won in the second round, he would definitely face the Israeli athlete and if he competed, he would violate the unwritten laws of the Islamic Republic. If he didn’t compete, there was a possibility that the Iranian sports caravan would be deprived and return. You know that everything was ready two months before the Olympics. Tests and exams had been given and documents had been sent. He was training day and night in the camp. But they gave him medicine and poisoned him with severe medication and food. He was hospitalized and they even took a video of him. They tampered with his medical records and completely messed up his body’s system with that medicine. This is an

After finishing their athletic career, what happens to the athlete? For example, do they want to become a coach or retire completely? Is there any support for these athletes and veterans?

Recently, a wave of athletes leaving Iran has emerged, which can be considered unprecedented. As a veteran athlete, a coach, and someone who has been living outside the country for several years, what analysis do you have of this wave of departures and why do you think this is happening at this time?

I think the blindfold of this group should be opened by someone, and I believe Saeed Malaei opened this knot. Before Saeed, others had also left the country. I myself was one of the pioneers of this movement. I protested and wanted to make my voice heard to the world. But unfortunately, because I was not a champion at the time of leaving, I remained silent. When someone like me goes to the embassy and introduces himself and says, “My problem is this,” they say, “If you are a world champion now, we will give you a visa, otherwise you have to go and register with the United Nations.”

I said that with this move, Saeed showed other athletes that it is possible to do such a thing and to promote the slogan of peace and friendship among nations within the framework of sports competitions. This is the Olympic Charter. If you want to adhere to it and love the sport you have chosen, you can achieve it in

Thank you for the time you have given to the peace line.