Human rights groups call for Winter Olympic boycott

More than 180 organisations have called on governments to boycott Beijing 2022 because of reported human rights abuses against ethnic minorities. The Beijing Olympics will make it the third consecutive Olympic event to be held in Asia, although due to alleged genocide and human rights violations in China, thousands of activists and enthusiasts are demanding to boycott the sports competition. 

The World Uyghur Congress described the event as a genocide Olympics and said that sports and politics will always be interlinked. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) failure to stand up for human rights during an ongoing genocide against Uyghurs, and severe human rights violations in Tibet, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, and mainland China will forever be remembered by citizens of the world.

This issue has become apparent for several months China’s treatment of its own citizens has been the subject of mounting criticism across the world. Canadian Dick Pound, who is a member of IOC mentioned that barring athletes from participating in the event would be a gesture that we know will have no impact whatsoever. The Games are not Chinese Games, the Games are the IOC Games and the decision on hosting is not made with a view to signalling approval of a government policy.

On the other hand group of Human rights, experts intervene to say that the Chinese government has gradually stripped away the religious and other freedoms of the Uighurs. They are a Muslim minority group that lives mostly in Xinjiang province in China. These people have been prime target of an oppressive system of mass surveillance, detention, indoctrination, and even forced sterilisation.

One can not help, but notice that history is repeating. What happened 82 years ago with the Nazi Olympics in 1936, is similar to what we are facing in 2021. Back then hosting the Games in Berlin helped legitimise Hitler’s genocide against the Jewish people and bolstered the Nazi regime. Again government should be pressurized by the international community to boycott the Beijing 2022 Games and take a stand to uphold the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. Apparently, top MNC’s like Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola and Visa who were earlier the key sponsors for the games are also questioned and criticized for their involvement and supporting the cause.

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