Ahead of Beijing 2022, Muslim Council of Britain asks broadcasters, influencers and athletes to recognise winter Olympics for what they are: The Genocide Games

PRESS RELEASE

3rd February 2022

On 4 February 2022, athletes will gather for the Beijing Winter Olympics despite the ongoing persecution and genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.  Approximately 3 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained at internment camps where they are subject to torture, rape, mass sterilisation, forced labour and made to renounce their Muslim beliefs and practices.  

Some brave athletes have taken a stand and have refused to take part, in solidarity with the victims. Others are making important gestures to ensure their plight does not go ignored.  The Muslim Council of Britain calls upon everyone involved – including broadcasters and sponsors – to use every opportunity to raise awareness around the plight of the Uyghur people.   

Dubbing them the “Genocide Games”, Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said:  

“China’s crimes against  Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, as documented by NGOs, survivors and observers, are crimes against humanity. They have been described as a genocide by human rights organisations as well. 

“In the spirit of the vision of the International Olympic Committee, to ‘Build a Better World through Sport’, we must not allow China to use these Genocide Games to hide their actions.  We all have a moral duty to highlight the plight of the Uyghur people, and to stand firmly against injustice and oppression.” 

The Muslim Council of Britain calls upon the international community to support calls for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation against senior Chinese leadership for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Uyghur people. 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For any media enquiries, please contact: media@mcb.org.uk
2. Click here for previous MCB statements on Uighur Muslims, including:
   1. Beijing Olympics 2022: We must exercise our conscience, MCB Opinion Piece, Feb 2021
   2. Supporting genocide amendment to Trade Bill, Jan 2021
   3. Submission to Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Dec 2020
   4. Writing to Foreign Secretary, July 2020
   5. Other statements, events and initiatives here, here, here, here and more
3. The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and professional networks

Photo: Hou Yu/China News Service/Getty Images