By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Indonesia on Thursday rejected threats from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after Jakarta denied visas to Israeli athletes for the World Gymnastics Championships due to the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Jakarta acknowledged that denying visas carries “consequences,” Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Erick Thohir wrote on the US social media company X.
Earlier this month, Indonesia announced it would bar Israeli athletes from participating in the championships scheduled for Oct. 19–25 in Jakarta.
On Wednesday, the IOC said it would “recommend to all International Federations not to host any international sports events or meetings in Indonesia until” Jakarta guarantees access to all participants, regardless of nationality.
However, Thohir emphasized that the world’s largest Muslim-populated nation “will continue to play an active role in various sports events at the Southeast Asian, Asian and global levels, so that Indonesian sports can serve as an ambassador and a reflection of the nation’s strength in the eyes of the world.”
He added that the decision aligns “with the laws and regulations in force” and the 1945 Constitution, which obliges Indonesia to help maintain world order.
“We… adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order and public interest in every international event organized… On that basis, Indonesia has taken steps to avoid the arrival of the Israeli delegation at the Gymnastics World Championships,” Erick added.
Jakarta's move comes amid criticism against IOC for its apparent double standards.
After the start of Russia's war on Ukraine in 2022, the IOC banned Russia from the 2024 Paris Olympics, allowing its athletes to compete only as neutrals, while Israeli athletes competed under their flag in Paris despite ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The 87 Israeli athletes who traveled to France in 2024 participated in the Paris Olympics under Israel’s flag, while Palestinians and their sports facilities were being bombed.
More than 800 athletes have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, as the sports community continues to suffer from bombardment, famine, and the collapse of infrastructure, according to Palestinian officials.
Since October 2023, Israel’s genocidal war has killed over 68,000 people and injured more than 170,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
A ceasefire deal took effect on Oct. 10 in Gaza, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump.