African students are facing mistreatment in China amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They are facing eviction and other types of discrimination due to public fears that they could spread the virus.
According to Al Jazeera, several African ambassadors have addressed the mistreatment of students and nationals in Guangzhou to China’s foreign minister. Several students exclaimed they are being evicted from their homes, been tested on multiple occasions without notice of any results and endure discrimination in public spaces.
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Al Jazeera journalist Sarah Clarke said in a statement that there is an apparent concern among China’s officials that Africans could be spreading the second wave of infections in Guangzhou:
“There is escalating scrutiny of foreign nationals, but they are targeting the Africans and the African American community. Since last Thursday we saw 114 new cases reported in Guangzhou of coronavirus infections and 16 of those were Africans.”
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A McDonald’s in #china is allegedly not permitting black people to dine in their restaurant. This follows weeks of rampant discrimination and racism towards foreigners in the China, particularly towards the African community. #blacklivesmatter #McDonalds pic.twitter.com/poyfQcBOXO
— The China Insider (@TheChinaInside2) April 11, 2020
This is what Chinese people are doing to Africans in China. pic.twitter.com/kBXQbyujpR
— Che Esq.🇬🇭🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@CheEsquire) April 10, 2020
The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has denied all accusations that Africans are being discriminated in the country on Saturday:
“It is harmful to sensationalise isolated incidents, China treats all individuals in the country, Chinese and foreign alike, as equals.”