Al Jazeera
Indonesia has denied visas to Israeli gymnasts ahead of a world championship in Jakarta, a sports official in the Southeast Asian nation says, amid outcry over Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Israeli team was set to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics championship from October 19 to 25 in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
“They are confirmed to not be attending,” Ita Juliati, the chief of the Indonesian gymnastics federation, told reporters.
Indonesia decided not to issue visas to the Israeli athletes, senior legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said, citing objections from groups such as a council of Islamic leaders and the government in Jakarta, the capital.
The decision is in line with Indonesia’s policy of having no ties with Israel until it recognises “the independence and full sovereignty of the state of Palestine”, Yusril added in a statement.
The Israeli team was set to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics championship from October 19 to 25 in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
“They are confirmed to not be attending,” Ita Juliati, the chief of the Indonesian gymnastics federation, told reporters.
Indonesia decided not to issue visas to the Israeli athletes, senior legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said, citing objections from groups such as a council of Islamic leaders and the government in Jakarta, the capital.
The decision is in line with Indonesia’s policy of having no ties with Israel until it recognises “the independence and full sovereignty of the state of Palestine”, Yusril added in a statement.
