The Indonesian government reaffirms its pro-Palestinian stance as it denies entry to six Israeli gymnasts set to compete in the upcoming 53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
Indonesia is set to host the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, officially titled the “53rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Jakarta 2025”, which will take place at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex from the 19th to the 25th of October. Around 500 athletes from 78 countries are expected to take part. The Israeli Gymnastics Federation announced that it had registered to participate in the 2025 event as well.
However, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, reiterated the Indonesian government’s stance regarding the participation of Israeli athletes in the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
“The Indonesian government will not grant visas to Israeli athletes intending to come to Jakarta to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be held from the 19th to the 25th of October. This position aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives on various occasions,” Mahendra told the press on Thursday, the 9th of October.
Mahendra further emphasised that the Indonesian government would not engage in any form of contact with Israel until the country recognises the existence of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state. The government, he continued, is also aware of the strong opposition expressed by various religious organisations, local authorities, and political parties in Indonesia concerning the upcoming planned participation of Israeli athletes in Jakarta.
Previously, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo stressed that he would not permit the presence of the Israeli athletes in the capital. He also urged the government and relevant organisations to reconsider the decision to invite athletes from Israel.
“Regarding Israeli athletes, if they were to come to Jakarta, of course, as Governor, under these circumstances, I would definitely not allow it,” Anung previously said at the Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday, the 8th of October.
As an additional context, US President Donald Trump recently announced on Truth Social that Israel and Hamas (one of the factions governing the Palestinian territories) had signed the first phase of a peace plan. Trump stated that all hostages would be released immediately and that Israel would withdraw its forces to the agreed-upon lines.