NBA star sparks fury after second video calling out China's 'genocide'

An NBA player has sparked fury after posting a second video in two days criticising Chinese human rights abuses.

Enes Kanter posted a video calling on China to end its "genocide" of the Uyghur Muslim minority group. He called China's premier, Xi Jinping, "heartless".

In a video post on Twitter, the Boston Celtics player wore a shirt saying "Freedom for Uyghurs". He demanded the Chinese state close down its "slave labour" camps and "free the Uyghur people".

Yesterday, China cancelled broadcasts of a Boston Celtics game after Kanter posted a video calling for a "Free Tibet".

In a post on Twitter on Thursday, the Swiss-born player said "Tibet belong Tibetans", after labelling Xi Jinping a "brutal dictator".

The player, who was raised in Turkey, said:  "Under the Chinese government's brutal rule, Tibetan people's basic rights and freedoms are non-existent."

At a game on Wednesday, Kanter wore shoes with "Free Tibet" written on them. The shoes were designed by Badiucao, an Australia-based artist who is critical of China.

The Chinese government has been accused of crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur people - a Muslim minority group - in Xinjiang province.

China denies these allegations.

In 1950, China took control of Tibet. The region had de facto independence from China before this.

The group Human Rights Watch said the Chinese state "severely restrict[s]" religious freedom, speech, movement, and assembly in Tibet.

In response to Kanter's calls for a Free Tibet, the Chinese government said: "Tibet is part of China." Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will "never accept" attacks that "discredit Tibet's development and progress".

China is a hugely lucrative market for the NBA. About 10% of the basketball league's revenue - which is about $8 billion - comes from China. This is expected to reach 20% by 2030.

The NBA has tried to woo the Chinese market by giving away free broadcasting rights, and has spent millions building basketball courts in the country.