US backs Arsenal football club after anger over Uighur comments

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China 'can't hide' the reality of its treatment of the Uighur people

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 14, 2019 a supporter of China's Muslim Uighur minority holds a placard of Arsenal's Turkish origin German midfielder Mesut Ozil reading "Thanks for being our voice" during a demonstration at Beyazid square in Istanbul. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 17, 2019 denounced China for its heavy-handed actions against Arsenal over footballer Mesut Ozil's support for incarcerated Uighurs, saying Beijing could not hide reality. Arsenal distanced itself from Ozil but Beijing dropped state television broadcasts of the English Premier League club's Sunday match -- a move that could have major commercial ramifications in the lucrative Chinese market.
 / AFP / Ozan KOSE
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has denounced China saying it has been heavy-handed in its reaction to Arsenal football club over comments by Mesut Ozil who said he supports incarcerated Uighurs.

Arsenal distanced itself from Ozil but Beijing dropped state television broadcasts of the English Premier League club's Sunday match – a move that could have major commercial ramifications in the lucrative Chinese market.

"China's Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor @MesutOzil1088 and @Arsenal's games all season long, but the truth will prevail," Mr Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

"The CCP can't hide its gross #HumanRights violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world," he said.

China has denied allegations around mass incarcerations of Uigurs and its treatment of the community, saying that camps are voluntary education centres and actions taken are an attempt to stop terror groups who have carried out attacks.

China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun has described the accusations as a “gross interference in China’s internal affairs and deliberate provocation.”

The British government, asked about China's treatment of Arsenal, said that it "consistently stands up for freedom of speech and expression and we urge other countries to do the same."

"We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and have raised these regularly with the Chinese government and at the UN," a government spokesperson said, referring to the western region of China home to the Uighurs.

The row comes shortly after China took action against the NBA's Houston Rockets after its general manager, Daryl Morey, tweeted his support for Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.

China has faced international criticism for setting up networks of centres in Xinjiang, which critics say are aimed at homogenising the Uighur population to reflect China's majority Han culture.

Turkey, which shares linguistic and ethnic ties with the Uighurs, has been outspoken on the issue.

But the White House has been vocal in criticism China over the programme and called on other states to follow suit.

However, countries are split on the issue.

At a UN General Assembly discussion in October, Belarus addressed the body on behalf of 54 countries, including China, Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Serbia, to say Beijing’s counterterror efforts were bringing stability to Xinjiang. UN Ambassador for Belarus Valentin Rybakov said China has proven openness and transparency in inviting diplomats, journalists and rights groups to tour the centres.

“Now safety and security have returned to Xinjiang and fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups there are safeguarded,” Mr Rybakov said. “We commend China’s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights.”