Uyghur footballer's selection for China national team sparks controversy

Since occupying East Turkistan, China has been constantly trying to restrict the appearance of Uyghur athletes on the international stage. In recent years, as it continues to implement its genocidal policies, it has detained a number of Uyghur footballers in detention camps. However, the inclusion of Uyghur footballer Imran Muhammed in the central training list of the Chinese national team has drawn widespread attention.
According to a report published by the Chinese Tanrıdag website, the Chinese Football Association recently announced the training list of the national youth under-19 (U-19) team for 2024, which includes Uyghur player Imran Muhammed. This training is in preparation for the 2025 AFC Youth Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The team will undergo central training in Chengdu this month and will participate in the 2024 Panda International Cup. The Chinese team is scheduled to face Australia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.
Imran Muhammed, born in Urumqi in 2005, currently plays for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League. He is known for his powerful passing skills, tight defense, and physical strength.
For years, China has prevented Uyghurs from making an international impact in various fields, including sports. In 2020, when Jiangsu Suning announced its roster for training in Dubai, Uyghur player Abdulhamid was excluded for no apparent reason. In 2018, talented Uyghur player Erfan Hazim was detained while playing in China, and his fate remains unknown.
In an attempt to cover up abuses in East Turkistan, China has allowed some Uyghur athletes to compete internationally, such as runner Alshir Omar, who set records at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships.
Despite these attempts, China continues to restrict the freedom of movement of Uyghurs internationally for fear of them seeking political asylum or exposing abuses. However, its abuses against Uyghur athletes remain the focus of international media attention.