A news report in Dawn’s Jan 28 issue made the rest of my day more endurable.

The report said that Israeli athletes were not allowed to compete in World Para Swimming Championships.

Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rehman, said, and I quote: “if hosting an international sporting event is more important than standing up for our Palestinian brothers and sisters who get murdered, maimed and tortured by the Netanyahu regime, this means Malaysia has truly lost its moral compass.”

This is how and where a nation should close ranks and unite. This is how dignified countries look others in the eye and respond to terrorist regimes. Perhaps our leaders should show the same guts and call a spade a spade!

Tasneem Allibhoy Tharia
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2019