Indonesia says decision to bar Zionist gymnastics from world championships meant to maintain intl. order

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir said his country understands the consequences of its move to prevent Israeli gymnasts from participating in the event that kicked off on October 19 and will run until October 25.

"We adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order, and the public interest in hosting every international event," he added, noting that the principle was part of Indonesia's constitution.

Thohir also said that Indonesia will continue to play an “active role” in various sporting events, so that Indonesian sports can be an ambassador and a reflection of the nation’s greatness in the eyes of the world.”

The remarks came one day after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that global sports federations cease holding events in Indonesia. It also announced cutting off all discussions about any potential Olympic bid by the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation to host the 2036 summer games.

Earlier this month, Indonesia said it would deny travel visas to Israeli athletes for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta over Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the Israeli athletes’ arrival would cause deep emotional distress to the majority of Indonesians amid an unbearable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“Their presence would obviously spark public outrage in such a situation,” he told reporters.

Indonesia’s senior law and human rights minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the decision was in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s previous directives on various occasions, and most recently in his speech at the UN General Assembly, which blasted Israel for its brutal Gaza onslaught.

Meanwhile, the MUI, Indonesia's top Islamic scholars' body, urged all communities that support Palestinian independence to call for the Israeli team to be excluded.

“By refusing to allow Israeli athletes to compete in the sporting arena, we want to state that all forms of colonialism must be abolished because they are contrary to humanity and justice,” said MUI Secretary General Amirsyah Tambunan.

Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and has strongly criticized the occupying regime over its genocide in Gaza, which has killed at least 68,234 Palestinians, mostly women and children, over the past two years.

Zionist regime has become progressively more isolated on the international stage over its war crimes in Gaza, with numerous countries striving to exclude Israel from various sporting and cultural events.