Airbnb Is Asked To Step Away From Sponsorship Of Winter Olympics Over The Violation Against Muslim Uyghurs
Airbnb was set to be one of the sponsors of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics. But the company has been requested to step away from the role by 150 human-rights campaigners. The campaigners are led by the groups protesting against the human rights violations in China, especially against the detention centers imprisoning Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.
There are a total of 15 sponsors in the International Olympic Committee. Airbnb is an integral part of the committee. The other members of the group are Alibaba, Samsung, Intel, Coca-Cola, Procter and Gamble, Visa, and Panasonic.
The home-sharing business, Airbnb has been accused of not maintaining ‘social responsibility’ several times in the past.
An open letter was sent to Associated Press on Tuesday. It was addressed to Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb. In the letter, it is said that Airbnb is pushing tourism in China, while the Tibetans and the Uyghurs remain imprisoned and cannot travel within or outside of the country by will.
The letter also claimed that Airbnb is ignoring the horrible human rights violation happening in Chine. The company is rather trying to normalize the ambiance which is considered as a ‘deeply restrictive environment’ under international law.
The letter wished that Airbnb does not promote a tourist industry in China, which is built at the ‘expense of Uyghur and Tibetan rights.’
Nearly $1 billion in cash or services were paid by the 15 sponsors to the IOC in the four-year Olympic cycle in the association of the games. Airbnb joined the team of sponsors in November 2019.
The human rights campaigners are also trying to convince the other IOC sponsors to start a diplomatic boycott of the games. In their opinion, this will bring the attention of the world to the alleged violence against Uyghurs, Tibetans, and the people of Hong Kong.
The Beijing Winter Olympics will begin on 4th February 2022.
China claimed that these boycott efforts are ‘political motives’ against them. They also claimed that the detention camps at Xinjiang, are vocational centers.
Zhao Lijian, the foreign ministry spokesman recently said, ‘China firmly rejects the politicization of sports and opposes using human rights issues to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.’ According to him, the boycott efforts are bound to fail.
The groups have discussed the matters with the IOC. The Olympic Body wants to stay politically ‘neutral’. The IOC told them that China has assured them of the human rights conditions in the country.
IOS has refused to reveal the documents to the public. The two-time Olympic gold-medal skier, Mikaela Shiffrin revealed the dilemma of the athletes in the situation in an interview on CNN.
She said that the athletes are in a tight spot to choose between human rights and their jobs. She thinks it can, ‘bring light to some issues or can actually bring hope to the world at a very difficult time.’
