Ex-Chelsea star Demba Ba calls for solidarity against treatment of Uighur Muslims in China

In wake of global Black Lives Matter movement, former Chelsea striker Demba Ba has called for support from football fraternity against treatment of Uighur Muslims in China. French-born Senegal striker currently plies his trade in Turkey where he plays for Turkish league champions Istanbul Basaksehir. He previously played for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua between 2015 and 2018.

Demba Ba urges football unity against treatment of Uighur Muslims

" Black Lives Matter movement is stronger when n-black people step up for it," Demba Ba told BBC Sport. "When are we going to see rest of world stand up for Muslims?" former Chelsea, West Ham and Newcastle forward said he will try to organise something so that football players can come toger in support of  Uighur Muslims. In interim, Ba said it is paramount to keep talking about this matter since it lot of people don't want to address controversial topic. 

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As per reports, more than a million Uighur are said to have been detained in Chinese prison camps without proper trial. ir faith and ethnicity has been reason behind mass segregation as Chinese government has reportedly separated Uighur children from ir parents. Uighur women are also said to be forcibly sterilised.

China has repeatedly tried to distance itself from growing calls to end this oppression. Initially, officials denied it was a prison camp, instead, claiming re were voluntary schools in Xinjiang for anti-extremism training. 

"I kw re are footballers who want to fight for justice, wher Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, any belief," Ba added. "As sportspeople, we have a power we don't even kw. If we get toger and talk, things change. If we stand up, people stand up with us."

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former Chelsea star is t first footballer to speak up against China's treatment of Uighur Muslims and or mirity communities. Arsenal attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil highlighted discrimination of Uighur on social media. However, Ozil's call for support went unheard as Arsenal distanced itself from controversy, claiming  club "always adheres to principles" of t getting involved in politics.

"What I said was t against Chinese people, it was against whoever is doing this to Uighur Muslims and or people who are t helping m, such as or Muslim countries," Ozil told Athletic last week. "I have given a lot to Arsenal, on and off pitch, so reaction was disappointing. y said y don't get involved in politics but this isn't politics and y have got involved in or issues." 

While anti-racism movement has taken centre-st in recent months, it remains to be seen if a renewed effort from likes of Demba Ba and Ozil can rally footballers and or athletes to speak up against oppression in China. 

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(Im Credits: UEFA.com DE Twitter Handle)