He was responding to a question about the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November following comments on social media referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict.
His post, which was subsequently deleted, suggested the “sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people” had been transferred and used against the Arab world.
Referring to his own family’s exile when he was one year old, the activist said: "I grew up within this heavy political censorship.
“I realise now, today in the West, you are doing exactly the same.”
He drew parallels with the disastrous purge under Mao, which took China to the brink of anarchy.
Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, Ai said: "This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not even a clear opinion.
Ai’s art often addresses political issues in China and he has frequently criticised Beijing’s record on human rights and democracy.
Wait…
Are you under the bizarre impression that Mao is currently running China?
Please prove that Mao isn’t secretly running China from his grave
…
What the fuck?
You’re the one asking evidence for irrelevant claims. Surely you can do the same when others ask it of you
Not at all.
The claim was that “censorship in the West is exactly the same as Mao’s China.”
Denmark is part of the West. I can show it to you on a map if you don’t believe me.
Either censorship in Denmark is the exactly the same as Mao’s China or that statement is a lie. Which is it?
Ah, we had America, Germany and France, but I forgot that Denmark is the only true Western nation.
NSA spying row: Denmark accused of helping US spy on European officials
Did Ai Weiei specify which nation? Did he talk about spying?
You WeiWei?
I see, you don’t even know who your own article is about or what they were quoted as saying.
You didn’t even read your own headline.
You don’t know who Ai Weiwei is, you think ‘the West’ means America, you don’t know who Mao was, you don’t understand censorship and you don’t understand what “exactly the same” means, so I wonder why you even bothered posting this.