Malaysia has denied entry visas to Israeli swimmers to compete in the World Para Swimming Championships (29 July to 4 August 2019), a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Please sign and share our petition protesting to the Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and the International Paralympic Committee.
To:
H.E. Dato’ Ahmad Rasidi Bin Hazizi, Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK
The International Paralympic Committee
We, the undersigned, express our shock and disappointment at Malaysia’s decision to deny entry visas to Israeli swimmers to compete in the World Para Swimming Championships (29 July to 4 August 2019), a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
This is blatant discrimination against citizens of the world’s only Jewish state, and is contrary to the International Paralympic Committee’s Mission “To promote Paralympic sport without discrimination for political, religious, economic, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or race reasons.” The fundamental principles of Olympism state “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
We call on Malaysia to reconsider this totally inappropriate decision and call on the International Paralympic Committee and World Para Swimming to relocate the Championships if Malaysia continues to politically abuse its role as host nation by barring the Israeli swimmers from participating.