Jibril Rajoub, who is likewise a senior figure in Fatah, states Australian authorities declared he belonged to a ‘terrorist organisation’ Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub makes a speech throughout the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on 17 May 2024 (AFP/Manan Vatsyayana) Published date: 12 June 2024 16:10 BST|Last upgrade: 4 hours 8 minutes ago Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestinian Football Association, was rejected a visa to go into Australia, which he stated authorities validated by declaring he was connected to a “terrorist organisation”. The 71-year-old was unable to associate the Palestinian guys’s football group on Tuesday, as they handled Australia in a World Cup qualifier in Perth. In an interview with Ultra Palestine, Rajoub stated that Australian authorities had actually informed him the restriction was “since I was a previous detainee and a member of a ‘terrorist organisation'”. He included: “The fact is that my entry was avoided under Israeli pressure, as I had actually formerly gone into Australia two times.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the choice was made “at arm’s length” by the nation’s immigation department. Stay notified with MEE’s newsletters Sign up to get the most recent signals, insights and analysis, beginning with Turkey Unpacked A representative for the Department of Home Affairs informed ABC News: “The Department does not discuss specific cases. All non-citizens looking for visas to get in Australia are thought about on a private basis versus legal requirements.” ABC reported that Rajoub’s visa rejection was based upon an omission in his application, and was unassociated to any remarks he had actually made given that Israel’s war on Gaza started in October. As being a football administrator, Rajoub is the head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee and a senior figure in Fatah, the political celebration that controls the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA). Rajoub was jailed a number of times by Israeli authorities in between 1968 and the finalizing of the Oslo Accords in 1994, over declared resistance activity. He was quickly a nationwide security consultant to late PLO leader Yasser Arafat and has actually belonged to Fatah’s main committee, the celebration’s greatest choice making body, considering that 2009. He presently functions as the committee’s secretary-general. Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister, stated on X that Australia had actually prohibited “founded guilty terrorist Jibril Rajoub from going into the nation”. “Rajoub, who applauded the Hamas massacre on October 7th and required a comparable massacre in Judea and Samaria, is not fit to participate in global football matches – he needs to remain in the Muqata and play wall ball rather,” Katz composed. Almost 300 professional athletes eliminated in Gaza Rajoub has actually been lobbying for Israel to be momentarily suspended from football’s governing body Fifa over its war on Gaza. He kept in mind last month that 282 professional athletes had actually been eliminated by Israel considering that 7 October, consisting of 193 footballers. A vote to suspend Israel has actually been held off by Fifa while it looks for independent legal recommendations on the proposition. War on Gaza: Australian authorities attack pro-Palestine demonstrations blockading Israeli ships Read More” Nasser Mashni, the head of the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network, informed ABC that it was a “terrific shock” and “genuine issue” that Rajoub was rejected a visa. Australia won the match in Perth 5-0, though Palestine had actually currently made it through to the next round of certifying. Palestine has actually never ever received the World Cup. Ahead of the match on Tuesday, popular Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja composed on X: “Palestinian flags will be flying all over in HBF Park in Perth. And they can’t prohibit them. “Likewise I’m baffled how we are playing a nation that our federal government does not even identify? Is this Socceroos v Nobody?” Australia is among a minority of nations that has yet to acknowledge Palestinian statehood. Over 140 of 193 UN member states have actually made the acknowledgment. Middle East Eye provides independent and incomparable protection and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. For more information about republishing this material and the associated charges, please submit this kind. More about MEE can be discovered here.
Palestine football chief states he was rejected Australia visa over ‘terrorism’ links – Middle East Eye
