Public Call to NBA: Cancel Pre-Season Games in UAE in Solidarity with the People of Sudan


October 3, 2024


WASHINGTON—In an open letter released today, a growing coalition of human rights organizations and concerned citizens are calling on the NBA to cancel their October 4 and 6 pre-season games with the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi in light of the United Arab Emirate’s fueling of atrocities in Sudan.

Groups including Refugees International, The Sentry, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Darfur Women Action Group, Sudanese Youth Network, and the Sudanese American Public Affairs Association, alongside hundreds of individuals have endorsed the open call for the NBA to cancel the games in light of the UAE’s role in what is now the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis.

“The NBA’s partnership with the UAE in hosting games risks making the NBA complicit in UAE efforts to divert global attention from its illicit support to the genocidal RSF militia in Sudan,” said Jeremy Konydyk, President of Refugees International, one of the leaders of the Speak Out on Sudan Campaign. “Refugees International and a growing coalition of concerned organizations and citizens urge the NBA to suspend its partnership with the UAE until it stops supplying weapons to the RSF and acts to restrain its campaign of crimes against humanity.”

“The people of Sudan have suffered immensely from the current war and the UAE has been the most egregious outside supporter of the Rapid Support Forces committing serious international crimes,” said Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of Darfur Women Action Group. “The NBA should not be partnering with enablers of atrocities. Rather it should be speaking out and standing in solidarity with the people of Sudan.”

Learn more at www.speakoutonsudan.org.