Serbia dispatches protest note to Australia for mistreating Novak Djokovic

Serbian politicians and celebrities have
joined protests over the treatment meted out to Novak Djokovic by Australian
authorities denying him entry to Australia. The foreign ministry in Belgrade said
that the world tennis No 1 had been “lured to Australia … to be humiliated.”

Also Read: Novak Djokovic’s visa cancelled, to be flown out of Australia on Thursday

The 34-year-old nine-time Australian Open
champion is currently in detention in an immigration hotel in Melbourne pending
a legal challenge to Australia’s decision on Wednesday to cancel a visa
allowing him to play in the Australian Open.

According to The Gurdian, Renowned Serbian film-maker Emir Kusturica,
in an op-ed for Iskra, said Djokovic’s detention was “not just a lesson to the
noble Serb”, but to everyone.

Also Read: Australian Open: Djokovic to be sent home if COVID vaccine proof insufficient

Australian authorities said Djokovic has
been denied entry to the country since he did not reveal his coronavirus
vaccination status and he failed to meet exemption requirements. They have also
said the player is free to leave the country whenever he chooses.

“Hasn’t the world already become a prison
of which barbed wire is the most expressive symbol?” Kusturica asked. “Aren’t
the punishments for those who refuse to be jabbed just another step by the
world government?”

Also Read: Novak Djokovic given medical exemption to play at Australian Open

Djokovic
is enduring “political harassment”

The former prime minister of Serbia Ivica
Dačić, the president of the Serbian parliament, said Djokovic was enduring
“despicable political harassment”. Any country in the world “would gladly give
citizenship to Mr Djokovic, let alone let him visit for a tournament”, Dacic
Dačić said, calling Australia’s behaviour “shameful” and the result of
“political instability in that country since elections are approaching”.

Djokovic’s family on Thursday compared him to
Jesus and accused Australian authorities of “trying to crucify him”. The family
has also called for a mass protest against his continuing detention on Friday
when Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic willing to play in Australian Open 2022

“The family of Novak Djokovic calls on all
fans and supporters of the best tennis player in the world, who is in a
delicate situation, in front of the Belgrade city assembly,” the family said in
a joint statement.

“The biggest Christian holiday is an
opportunity to show the significance of the community, to send support from
Belgrade, and to show how much support the best tennis player in the world has
in its own country.”

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“Novak Djokovic is not a criminal,
terrorist or illegal migrant, but he was treated that way by the Australian
authorities, which is causing understandable indignation of his fans and
citizens of Serbia,” the Serbian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Also Read: After Novak Djokovic, Australia cancels Czech tennis player Renata Voracova’s visa

The Serbian government, meanwhile,
dispatched a formal protest note to its embassy in Canberra for transmission to
the Australian government, and the foreign minister Nemanja Starović delivered
a verbal protest to Australia’s ambassador to Serbia, Daniel Emery.