Tennis Player Refused a Visa

[craft1948]

Israeli player Shahar Peer is refused a visa to take part in the Dubai Tennis Championships where she was due to play on Monday.

What are your thoughts on this?

[sn�gged]

Why was she refused?

[craft1948]

er she's Israeli - tournament is in Dubai?

[sn�gged]

Er, I realise that... just wondered if a 'specific' reason had been publicly issued...

[craft1948]

sorry -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7891164 .stm

[Beatrice35]

http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=37 0767

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2008-02- 15-peer-qatar_N.htm

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053793.ht ml

Thought the above links would interest everyone here. As an equalist, you all know what my response would be to this crazy situation. If I were a tennis player would boycott this event in support of Shahar Peer, too! When fear is chosen over love then there is discord on all kinds of levels + even sport is adversely affected. Withdrawing a visa from Shahar Peer is a travesty for sport- all sports, for equality + equity + for common sense. Warm wishes, Bea( a big tennis fan)

[sn�gged]

Bit of a daft question really... how can refusing a visa to a sport person 'when no reason is given' other than where they are from be anything other than wrong?

[raysparx1]

Because of what she is and where she is from should not stop her from competing, it is wrong, but are you surprised? if all muslims were banned from playing here because of what happened in the past, we would never hear the end of it.

[craft1948]

well snagged I don't think it's too daft a question. One of the 'thoughts' given for the visa refusal was that if she were allowed in there would be street riots in Dubai. Is this a good enough reason not to let her in?

[dot.hawkes]

It's crazy, the people in Dubai are too busy shopping and eating in posh hotels to riot in the streets anyway.
I hope other tennis stars do protest with their feet, aren't tennis stars independant anyway? Beatrice will know, they are not 'picked' by their country are they? they are there because they are the best i thought. How would it affect their standings, finances and future if they decided to [protest and withdraw?

[dot.hawkes]

Didn't something happen with Rod Laver and South Africa years ago?