Mesut Ozil has caused a major international row with a social media post criticising China’s treatment of the Muslim Uighur community.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV removed Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester City from their schedules in protest and it is likely to cause an issue for Arsenal in the longer term.
CCTV took the decision to show a recording of Wolves ’ game with Tottenham rather than Arsenal after Ozil’s comments as the TV station showed it had “disappointed fans and football governing authorities.”
It was a brave stance from Ozil to stand up for fellow Muslims who have complained of widespread persecution because he was not just standing up for the people but also knowing that it would cause ramifications for his club.
Ozil’s posts called Uighurs “warriors who resist persecution” and criticised both China’s crackdown and the silence of Muslims in response.
(Image: PA)
“(In China) Qurans are burned, mosques were closed down, Islamic theological schools, madrasas were banned, religious scholars were killed one by one. Despite all this, Muslims stay quiet,” wrote Ozil in his social media posts.
Human rights groups say about a million people – mostly from the Muslim Uighur community – are thought to have been detained without trial in high-security prison camps.
US National Basketball Association suffered financial losses after an online comment from a team executive prompted a crisis in its relations with China.
Houston Rockets’ manager Daryl Morey had tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. As a result, Chinese firms suspended sponsorship and telecast deals.
Arsenal did issue a statement to its Chinese online sites distancing themselves from Ozil’s comments and insisting the club would always remain “apolitical.”
The statement said: “The content he expressed is entirely Ozil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal always adheres to the principle of not being involved in politics.”
China has repeatedly denied any mistreatment of Uighurs.
