Indonesian Minister Responds to Visa Denial for Israeli Gymnastics Team

Indonesian Sports Minister Eric Tohir has made remarks regarding the backlash stemming from the decision to deny visas to the Israeli gymnastics national team for the World Championships in Jakarta. This decision has drawn significant international criticism.

In light of the suspension of the Israeli team, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently advised against Indonesia hosting international athletic events and suggested halting discussions about the country hosting future Olympic Games.

In a statement on Thursday, Tohir defended the actions taken by his government.

“We uphold the principles of maintaining security and public order in organizing international events,” Tohir said. During a press conference on Friday, he expanded on his thoughts.

“This is about preserving our national dignity according to our constitution,” he explained, referencing the 1945 constitution. “While we must remain an independent nation, we also have a responsibility to ensure global safety… This is still under discussion,” he added, which suggests a sense of ongoing deliberation.

Notably, Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority nation and has historically supported Palestine. This stance fueled strong opposition to the planned participation of the Israeli team.

Prior to this, Indonesia lost the chance to host the Under-20 World Cup when Bali’s governor refused to allow an Israeli team to participate in a match. Similarly, in July, Indonesia pulled out of hosting the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games due to controversy surrounding Israel’s involvement.

Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), addressed the situation at the world championships, asserting that sports should be devoid of political interference.

“I concur with the IOC’s statement that sports and politics should remain separate,” Watanabe remarked. He expressed that all athletes should have equal rights to participation, emphasizing the importance of this principle in the Olympic Charter being developed. He expressed regret over the lack of support for Israeli athletes but stated respect for the Indonesian government’s decision.

“FIG expresses deep regret that we couldn’t protect the rights of athletes from Israel this time,” he stated. As the global landscape evolves, the ongoing challenge remains how to safeguard participating athletes. The Indonesian government communicated that this decision pertains to ensuring the safety of all athletes involved and is not politically motivated.

Indonesia’s recent actions reflect a trend of restrictions on Israeli sports teams and fans. For instance, the Israeli Technology Cycling team has been barred from competing in the Giro dell’Emiglia race in Italy due to fears of pro-Palestinian protests.

Additionally, the UEFA Europa League is considering suspending Israeli activities in response to the Gaza War. FIFA president Gianni Infantino indicated that no actions would be taken against the Israeli team and subsequently met with Palestinian Football Federation President Djibril Rajoub, appreciating the resilience of the organization during these times.

Moreover, fans of Israeli teams are facing increasing bans on attending events. For example, supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team were prohibited from attending an upcoming Europa League match in Birmingham due to safety concerns, following previous incidents involving attacks on fans.