Dec 17, 2019 - World

Mike Pompeo supports Mesut Özil's comments on Uighur persecution

Fadel Allassan

Mesut Ozil. — Arsenal soccer player Mesut Özil. Photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has tweeted his support for soccer star Mesut Özil after the Arsenal player criticized China’s mass detention of Uighur Muslims.

Driving the news: The comments come after Özil's London-based soccer club distanced itself from Özil's comments, with the team putting out a statement that it does not interfere in politics. Chinese broadcaster CCTV then pulled a match between Arsenal and Manchester City in light of the criticism.

What Pompeo's saying:

Background: Özil, a German Muslim of Turkish origin, condemned China on Twitter and Instagram for persecuting Uighur minorities in Xinjiang. He also called out Muslim-majority countries for failing to take action against the persecutions.

Go deeper:

China destroying documents after leaks about Uighur Muslims
China tried to get World Bank to fund surveillance in Xinjiang

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Mike Pompeo supports Mesut Özil's comments on Uighur persecution

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