Many countries have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022 citing persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China.
The United States was the first to announce the boycott, saying its government officials would not attend the Beijing Olympics.
Canada, Australia, and Britain are the other countries that have announced a diplomatic boycott.
A diplomatic boycott will preclude only government officials from attending the event.
The athletes from these countries, however, will participate in the games.
The Uyghurs are the largest minority ethnic group in China’s north-western province of Xinjiang.
China has been accused of committing crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups in the country.
Human rights groups believe China has detained more than one million Uyghurs against their will over the past few years in camps.
Some former camp detainees have also alleged they were tortured and sexually abused.
