Iran’s sports minister urges Spain to help build global consensus to suspend Israel from international sports

Tehran - BORNA - In his letter, Donyamali praised the Spanish nation for its long-standing commitment to values such as freedom, justice, and human dignity, describing Spain’s sports community as “a source of inspiration for millions around the world” and a symbol of “solidarity, courage, and mutual respect.”

The full text of his letter is as follows:

H. E. Ms. Pilar Alegría
Honorable Minister of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports
 of the Kingdom of Spain

Your Excellency,
Throughout history, the Spanish nation has always adhered to such values as freedom, justice, and human dignity, values deeply rooted in its culture and national identity. Besides, Spain sports enjoying a respectable and influential status in the eyes of millions of people across the world, has long been recognized as a symbol of solidarity, courage and mutual respect, and has played a unique role in promoting human values.

Today, the world is faced with a serious challenge. The presence of the Zionist Regime of Israel as the biggest violator of international law in global sport arenas is undermining the credibility of sport values and principles. Through its measures of occupying other nations’ territories, implementing unjust policies and violating human rights permanently, the Zionist regime of Israel can no longer hide its true inhumane nature. The continuation of such a situation turns sports, which should be the common language of nations for convergence, into a tool that serves to legitimize a system based on discrimination and apartheid.

The historic experience in suspending the apartheid regime of South Africa is testimony to the fact that sport community along with the international society can exercise a vital role in countering apartheid regimes’ discriminatory measures. Today, the world needs to have the same solidarity and determination.

As a leading European nation with an outstanding reputation in both the European Union and the international community, the Kingdom of Spain can play a significant role in global consensus to suspend the Israeli regime in sports. It is therefore praiseworthy that the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports of the Kingdom of Spain will continue to foster cooperation with other European and international sports bodies through new initiatives and collaborative frameworks for suspending the Israel regime’s sports.

I am confident that Spain - long admired as a nation of excellence in the world sports - will once again reaffirm its historical commitment to justice, ethics, and respect for international human rights on the global sports stage.

With the highest respect and consideration.

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