China’s Foreign Ministry says that Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has been "completely deceived by fake news and false statements” after the German midfielder criticized the country's alleged role in the plight of Uighur Muslims.
Ozil spoke out against the reported religious and ethnic persecution of minority groups in the Asian country, stating on social media: “East Turkistan, the bleeding wound of the Ummah, resisting against the persecutors trying to separate them from their religion.
“They burn their Qurans. They shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men.
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“The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men.