Global pressure mounts as Malaysia seeks Israel's ban from Olympics on human rights grounds
'Allowing Israel to participate in the Olympics would undermine the very ethos of the Olympic movement'
SINAR DAILY REPORTER
SHAH ALAM - In a significant move towards advocating for Palestinian rights, a memorandum backed by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Malaysia (BDS Malaysia) movement was submitted to the Olympics Council of Malaysia (OCM) today.
The memorandum urged the council to propose a motion at the next International Olympics Committee (IOC) meeting in Lausanne for Israel's expulsion from the international Olympics movement.
The memorandum, backed by BDS Malaysia movement along with 33 other non-governmental organisations and local sports bodies, marks a strong stance against Israel's human rights violations.
Led by BDS Malaysia Chairman Professor Mohd Nazari Ismail, an eight-person delegation met with OCM's secretary-general, Datuk Nazifuddin Mohd Najib at Wisma OCM.
The discussion, described as very cordial, saw Nazari outlining the rationale behind the call for Israel's expulsion, drawing parallels to the IOC's historical decision to ban apartheid South Africa.
Nazari highlighted Israel's oppressive actions against the Palestinian people, classified as apartheid by various international and Israeli human rights organisations.
Citing events since October 2023, including the daily documented mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza, Nazari pointed to the International Court of Justice's recent declaration of Israel's actions in Gaza as potentially genocidal.
He also stressed the targeted destruction of Palestinian sports infrastructure by Israeli forces, further violating the Olympic spirit.
The BDS chairman argued that allowing Israel to participate in the Olympics would undermine the very ethos of the Olympic movement, advocating for a ban as a means to pressure Israel to halt its oppression of Palestinians.
He also noted the increasing international calls for such a ban, paralleling the swift suspension of Russia from the Olympic movement due to its invasion of Ukraine, and stressing the importance of consistency in the IOC's decisions.
Nazifuddin assured the delegation that the contents of the memorandum would be brought to the OCM leadership for further consideration.
The meeting signals a growing movement within the international sports community to address geopolitical issues through the lens of athletic participation and the overarching principles of the Olympic Games.
