S. African removed from gym for wearing anti-Israel shirt

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa

A South African man was kicked out of the popular Virgin Active gym in Johannesburg for wearing an anti-Israel T-shirt.

“I have been wearing my BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] T-shirts to the gym every day, until yesterday when the manager told me I could no longer wear the T-shirt inside the gym,” Muhammed Desai, leader of the BDS movement in South Africa, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.  

BDS is a global movement that is working to increase economic and political pressure on Israel with the aim of ending the occupation of Palestinian land.  

Desai said the incident happened on Wednesday when the manager allegedly told him that his membership has been cancelled after he refused to take off the BDS T-shirt.

“They called the police to arrest me, but when they arrived, they said there were no reasons for the arrest,” Desai said.

Desai said the manager allegedly insisted that he be escorted out of the gym because his T-shirt was offensive to some gym members.

“The T-shirt worn by Mr. Desai generated strong complaints from fellow members at the Old Eds club and he was politely requested by management not to wear it in [the] future,” Les Aupiais, head of strategic communications at the club, said in a statement mailed to Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

She said Desai allegedly aggressively declined their request and reportedly said he would force entry if he was refused.

Aupiais said the club had never encountered such a situation before and they have now learned valuable lessons.

“We need to make it clear that no legal item of clothing is banned from Virgin Active clubs, but we would hope that members would understand the need for both tolerance and respect in this space,” the statement said.

The club also said that it has sought a personal meeting with Desai to discuss their position. 

The BDS movement is active in South Africa and has forced a number of organizations to cut ties with Israel.  

Many South Africans, including the ruling African National Congress (ANC), are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.