Smith receives death threats ‘every day’ for mocking Islam

Four-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith says he receives death threats “every day” after a video was leaked in which he apparently mocks Islam.
Smith, who could face “suspension or expulsion” by British Gymnastics, did not state where the death threats came from.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, he said he has experienced “a lot of hatred from the Muslim community” after the video surfaced.
“It’s a very scary situation,” he said.
“I am very ignorant to religion but I am an ethnic minority myself and have been on the receiving end of racist comments. I do not condone racism at all.
“Some people from the Muslim community have been understanding. Some people have been angry, but once I have apologised, they have then said ‘we are taught to forgive – we are peaceful’.
“And at the other end of the spectrum I’ve had death threats. Every day online. I’m cautious and I’m stressed.”
Smith, who has won medals at the past three Olympic Games, has already been censured twice this year by British Gymnastics.
Smith was at his friend’s wedding when the incident happened in the bar at around 05:00 BST. He was with retired Irish gymnast Luke Carson.
“We were singing Disney songs from the Lion King and Jungle Book. We were acting out pretending to pick up palm trees like the Bare Necessities,” says Smith.
“Then we went on to Aladdin and I was saying, ‘we need a magic carpet’ and then Luke went to grab a tapestry off the wall and then put it on the floor.
“And that’s when things went a bit sour and we went into a shameful thing of mocking Islam prayer. It was a very silly thing for both of us to do.
“Given the amount of alcohol we had consumed and the silly mood we were in we found it hilarious at the time.
“What people saw in that video is not a representation of what I stand for and my moral fibre.”