Mesut Ozil has accused Arsenal of freezing him out of the club due to his political stance on human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims in China. The former Germany international, who retired from playing in 2023, believes the Premier League club prioritized its commercial interests over supporting his right to speak out.
Ozil’s status at Arsenal, where he played more than 250 times between 2013 and 2021, began to decline rapidly after he made his comments about the Uighur community in Xinjiang at the end of 2019. At that time, China faced widespread accusations of extensive human rights abuses against Uighurs, a population of Turkic Muslims. These allegations included the internment of over a million people and possible genocide.
Speaking at the Leadership in the Age of Confusion Summit, Ozil reflected on his decision to speak out. “I heard about Uighur Turks and then I made my research,” he stated. “Then, of course, as a star, I had a voice. And I knew also if I post something about this kind of thing, I will get in trouble. But I didn’t care. I posted and I am happy.”
Arsenal’s response and Ozil’s decline
Following Ozil’s social media post, Arsenal distanced themselves from his comments. GiveMeSport reported that the club released a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, asserting that they do not involve themselves in politics. Ozil believes this marked a turning point in his career at the Emirates.
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“So, of course, they closed [on] me the doors,” Ozil revealed. “They didn’t let me play anymore. I understand also my team-mates. So, when they get in touch with me, they will also be in trouble.”
His time at Arsenal, which saw him win the FA Cup four times and the World Cup with Germany during his tenure, concluded with a free transfer to Turkish giants Fenerbahce. His stint in Istanbul was brief, and he eventually retired from professional football. Ozil is now directly involved in Turkish politics as a board member of the Justice and Development Party.
Sources: www.givemesport.com
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