The International Ice Hockey Federation is inviting its 70 member nations to raise the issue of boycotting the 2014 hockey world championships in Belarus on human rights concerns, but maintains the body’s statutes oblige it to remain politically neutral.
The IIHF was reacting to a European Parliament resolution passed earlier Thursday that it should consider moving the tournament to a different country “until the regime shows commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”
The European Union last week extended sanctions on President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in response to its execution of two people convicted of bombing a subway station of the capital city, Minsk, that killed 15 people and wounded 300 others. Both were convicted in November on evidence that their defense lawyers described as inconclusive.
“The IIHF observes strict political, racial and religious neutrality,” the body said in a statement. “No discrimination is permitted against a member national association or person on political, racial or religious grounds.”
The statement added, however, that “any of the 70 IIHF members … will have an opportunity to raise the issue of whether it is appropriate to play in Belarus” at the next congress in Helsinki in May.
“If the issue of Belarus 2014 will be raised, it will be up to the congress to make a decision.”
Language used later in the statement suggested the IIHF opposed the proposed boycott not least because it would open a can of worms when attempting to regulate future issues.
“The IIHF would furthermore like to invite a broader discussion whether it is recommended to generally use sports as a political tool, and, if yes, how to implement across-the-board consistency in such actions to avoid certain sports and championships from arbitrarily being singled out.”
Belarus is the only nation in Europe still using capital punishment.
The championships would be the first major sporting event held in Belarus. Lukashenko, a keen hockey fan, reportedly said earlier this month that his country had “earned the championship” and “suffered” for it.
