Mesut Ozil has criticised Arsenal’s unwillingness to support him after his comments about the persecution of Uighur Muslims in China and has called on the club to say ‘Muslim Lives Matter’ as well as ‘Black Lives Matters’ . The player who is currently frozen out from the squad for unknown reasons shared his views in an interview with The Athletic.
In December 2019, Ozil spoke out strongly on Instagram against China’s treatment of the Uighur population in the north-western region of Xinjiang, where over a million people have reportedly been held in detention camps over recent years.
Mesut Ozil Exclusive | @David_Ornstein
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) August 13, 2020
▪️ Will he be leaving #Arsenal this summer?
▪️ Why he refused to take a pay cut – and believes he wasn't the only one
▪️ His relationship with Arteta
▪️ People who want to "destroy" him
▪️ Why the world must say "Muslim Lives Matter"
“It doesn’t matter what religion or colour you are – Muslim, Christian, Jew, black, white or anything else. We are all the same.
“What I said was not against Chinese people, it was against whoever is doing this to the Uighur Muslims and other people who are not helping them, such as other Muslim countries.
“I have given a lot to Arsenal, on and off the pitch, so the reaction was disappointing.
“They said they don’t get involved in politics but this isn’t politics and they have got involved in other issues.
“In America, we saw George Floyd killed and the world spoke up to say Black Lives Matter, and that is correct.
“We are all equal and it’s a good thing that people fight against injustice.
“There are a lot of black players and fans of Arsenal and it’s fantastic the club is backing them.
“But I wish people would have done the same for the Muslims because Arsenal have many Muslim players and fans as well, and it is important for the world to say that Muslim Lives Matter.”
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