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Updated » List of diplomatic boycotts grow for 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China due to genocide and other human rights “atrocities”

On 2021.12.06 the Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.”

Countries are boycotting to send a message over to pressure Beijing over abuses against the Uyghur community (which has been declared a genocide by some), a crackdown on pro-democracy free speech protests in Hong Kong, China’s recent aggression toward Taiwan, pursuit of hypersonic weapons, and its secrecy surrounding the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House is looking to send a “clear message” that the human rights abuses in China mean there cannot be “business as usual.”

Athletes from these countries are free to participate in the games. But in light of China’s threat that countries will pay a price for this, athletes, journalists, tourists, and others must be hesitant about attending.

» Two-time Olympic luge champion – Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger – may skip Beijing Games over athlete mistreatment in China » CBC

The following countries have announced they will not be sending diplomats or officials to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing »

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Turkey summons ambassadors from 10 countries over their call to release activist Osman Kavala

Osman Kavala, 64, has been in Turkish prisons since October 2017. He is being held on charges of espionage and attempting to overthrow the government, stemming from his alleged involvement in the 2013 Gezi protests and the 2016 coup attempt.

Kavala’s imprisonment has been condemned by human rights groups and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered his release.

On Monday, the fourth anniversary of Kavala’s detention, the embassies of the Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States released a joint statement calling for his immediate release.

“The continuing delays in his trial, including by merging different cases and creating new ones after a previous acquittal, cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system,” the statement said.

» France 24 / DW / Aljazeera / Euractive

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