World Jewish Congress (WJC) CEO Robert Singer has criticized the authorities in Indonesia for “unfairly mixing politics and sports” by denying a visa to Israel player Misha Zilberman that would allow him to compete in the World Badminton Championship in Jakarta next week. Zilberman has reportedly been denied an entry visa despite lodging his application six months ago and providing all the necessary documentation.
Singer said: “This decision to bar an Israeli player from an international sporting competition can’t stand, and I urge Indonesia to allow Misha Zilberman to compete in these championships.”
He added: “Let’s be clear about this: Here we have yet another blatant attempt to mix politics and sports, and to exclude Israeli athletes from international competitions. If this decision is upheld, it will do harm to Indonesia’s standing in the world, and it will raise the question whether Indonesia is the right place to hold such prestigious events.”
Singer also attacked the organizer of the games, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), for its inaction on the matter and for not providing assistance to Zilberman. “If athletes are excluded on political grounds, at the very least there should be some soul-searching going on. This sad episode casts a shadow on the event, and the failure of the BWF leadership to use its leverage speaks volumes.”
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. It does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and it is difficult for Israelis to visit the Southeast Asian nation.
"After six months of exchanging letters, and after sending all the documents they requested, and after we arrived in Singapore, they are saying no," Zilberman, 26, wrote on his Facebook page. "After two weeks in Singapore waiting for a visa they are probably sending me home instead of to the World Championships." The week-long world championships begin on Monday.
