Uygur tweets by Mesut Ozil and Sonny Bill Williams prove athletes can use fame for good, Craig Foster says
- Former Australia football captain praises social media posts calling for action on China’s treatment of Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang
- A China embassy spokesman in New Zealand hits back, saying the country opposes attempts to ‘sabotage China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’
Australian human rights activist and former footballer Craig Foster has backed Arsenal player Mesut Ozil and rugby star Sonny Bill Williams after they tweeted their support for Uygur Muslims in China.
A spokesman for China’s embassy in New Zealand, meanwhile, has responded to Williams’ tweet, according to Newshub, saying the country was “opposed to any attempts to sabotage China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Foster, who once played for Ernest Borel in Hong Kong, supported Ozil’s and Williams’ right to speak up, saying it was a case of high-profile athletes using their fame for good.
“The awareness brought to the Uyghur abuse by @mesutozil1088 demonstrates the value, and importance of athletes using their platform for good,” said Foster in a tweet, having retweeted Williams’ support for the German international. “Human rights are not political, they’re universal. Bravo @sonnybwilliams for joining him.”
Ozil, who is of Turkish descent, posted a message on social media on December 13 – written in Turkish – saying the Uygur in Xinjiang province in western China were “warriors who resist persecution” while also hitting out at the silence of Muslims.