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Outrage at the Chinese government’s actions against the country’s Muslim minority, the Uighurs, has increased sharply worldwide in recent months.
There is increasing evidence that the Uighurs in Xinjiang are being tortured, separated from family members, and interfered with in so-called re-education camps. Women are required to be sterilized.
Human rights defenders say that many of the biggest clothing brands, despite all these violations, buy cotton and yarns made specifically by Uighurs.
AFP / Scanpix photo / Protest against exploitation of Uighurs in Malaysia
Millions are forced to work
Up to 1.8 million people are estimated to be employed in forced labor camps, factories and farms in Xinjiang. Uyghurs and other Chinese Muslims.
Activists say Beijing has been carrying out the largest crackdown on ethnic and religious minorities since World War II.
In a joint statement, human rights advocates say clothing companies are very active in Xinjiang, saying they are “almost certain” that one in five cotton products sold worldwide is linked to Uighur oppression. .
China produces the largest amount of cotton in the world, at 84 percent. This product comes from Xinjiang. Cotton and yarns produced in this province are used very frequently in the vicinity of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam.
AFP / Scanpix Photo / Cotton collected in Xinjiang
The New York Times also reported that Xinjiang is wearing face masks and other protective equipment this week. They are sold worldwide.
According to the coalition of human rights defenders, companies like Gap, C&A, Adidas, Muji, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein are involved in the crackdown on the Uighur minority.
Ch.Cranson: It is very likely that all fashion companies are concerned with the way Uighurs are treated.
“Almost the entire global garment industry is polluted and contributes to the exploitation of Uighurs,” the report says, adding that a large number of clothing companies have still established strategic alliances with Chinese companies.
Western businessmen are said to even benefit from such cooperation, as the deals often move Uighurs to factories in other parts of China.
“It is very likely that all fashion companies are involved in the way Uighurs are treated,” said Chloe Cranson of Anti-Slavery International.
Ignorance or cynicism.
Activists urge clothing companies to dispose of all products associated with forced labor in Xinjiang within a year.
“These global companies need to ask themselves if everything is okay when they contribute to genocidal actions against the Uighurs.” These companies have somehow managed to avoid the approach so far, it must stop, “said Omer Kanat, spokesman for the Uyghur World Congress.
According to the Workers’ Rights Consortium, the companies cannot really prove that the factories supplying Xinjiang do not exploit the Uighurs.
Scanpix / AP Photo / Entrance to a forced labor base in Hotan City, Xinjiang
“Uighurs like this know that they will be severely punished if they speak.” Therefore, no labor inspection would help; In principle, it can be guaranteed that forced labor is used everywhere in Xinjiang.
“Any clothing company that claims to know that it is not involved in the exploitation of workers is either unaware of the real situation or behaves very cynically,” said Scott Nova, director of the consortium.
In April, a group of lawyers provided evidence that the Muji, Uniqlo, H&M and Ikea stores in the United Kingdom sell products containing cotton and yarn from Xinjiang.
H&M and Ikea soon announced that they would no longer buy cotton from the Chinese region. Muji still uses Xinjiang cotton and denies that it is related to Uyghur forced labor or exploitation.
Reuters / Scanpix Photo / H&M Store
Beijing’s policy towards the Uighurs is increasingly criticized by the international community. In July, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese officials in protest of the exploitation of Uighurs and other minorities.
Last week, Chinese diplomats again had to deny that human rights were being violated in Xinjiang when records appeared on the Internet showing captured Uyghurs being carried on board trains.
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