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Indonesian Sports Minister Erick Thohir responded to the recent global backlash and fallout from denying visas to the Israeli national gymnastics team for the world championships in Jakarta.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week recommended that international sporting events not be held in Indonesia, adding that it is ending any discussions with the country about hosting the Olympic Games in the future after the decision to ban Team Israel.
Thohir defended his country’s decision in a statement on Thursday.
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Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir delivers a press conference at his office in Jakarta on October 24, 2025. (Aditya Iran/AFP)
“We adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order and public interest when hosting every international event,” Thohir said.
During a press conference on Friday, Thohir gave a more elaborate response.
“This is, in fact, part of maintaining the dignity of our nation, in accordance with the 1945 Constitution,” he said through the Indonesian media Detikcom. “We must be an independent nation, but at the same time, we must also be a nation that maintains global security… This is something that is still under discussion.”
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world and has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians. The planned participation of Israeli athletes had sparked intense opposition within the country.
Previously, Indonesia was stripped of its right to host the under-20 football World Cup when the governor of Bali refused to host the Israel team in a match in 2023. In July of that same year, Indonesia withdrew from hosting the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games following controversy over Israel’s participation.
Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), spoke out on the matter and addressed the issue on Saturday at the world championships.
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Team Israel competes during the Rhythmic Gymnastics Group All-Around Final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Porte de La Chapelle Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Paris. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“I agree [with] “The IOC statement,” Watanabe said. “Sports are separate from politics. All athletes have the same right to participate in the sporting event. The IOC and the FIG must protect that right. This is for the Olympic charter we are writing.”
Watanabe added that the FIG “deeply regrets” the lack of protection for Israeli gymnasts, but expressed respect for the Indonesian government’s decision.
“At the FIG, we deeply regret not being able to protect the rights of a country’s athletes this time. But on the other hand, with the global situation changing, how to protect participating athletes is a challenge,” he said. “We have heard from the Indonesian government that this was a measure to ensure the safety of participating athletes, including athletes from one country, and also the people of the city, the city of Jakarta. Therefore, the reason is not political. This is what we heard.[ing]”.
Indonesia’s sanction is just the latest example of restrictions imposed on Israel’s sports teams and fans in recent months.
He israeli prime minister The tech cycling team has been excluded from an upcoming race in Italy, the Giro dell’Emilia, scheduled for October 4, due to potentially disruptive pro-Palestinian protests.
The UEFA Europa League, Europe’s largest football body, was reported to be moving towards a vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that no action would be taken against the team on October 3. He reportedly later met privately at FIFA headquarters with the head of the Palestinian soccer federation, Jibril Rajoub, and praised his organization “for its resilience at this time,” according to The Associated Press.
Fans of Israeli teams have also been excluded from recent major events.
Fans of the israeli The Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team is banned from attending a Europa League match in Birmingham, England, on Nov. 6 for security reasons, after the team’s fans were attacked in Amsterdam at a match against Ajax last fall.
