A research published by the US think-tank Center for Global Policy found evidence suggesting Uighur labour are being forced to pick cotton by hand and has slammed China for mistreating its ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region, DW reported.
An estimated 5,70,000 Uighur labourers have been mobilised by the Chinese government in the cotton industry, the report further found.
The research was also reviewed by the BBC and German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Commenting on the report, President of World Uighur Congress Dolkun Isa said, “The link between modern-day slavery and the genocide itself cannot be separated.”
”We haven’t seen any real action to stop this Uighur genocide,” he added and said that European countries, in particular, have not taken any “concrete action”.
He also pointed out that international bodies and organisations where China is a member can take legal and political action. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has declined to take a genocide complaint against Beijing over this matter.
The Xinjiang region produces over 20% of the world’s total cotton which makes the Asian country one of the major players of textile supply in the world. Some of China’s biggest cotton consumer include major fashion brands like Adidas, Nike, Gap and ever since the news of Uighur exploitation has been broken these fashion brands have come under fire by the rights activists group.
“It is impossible to define where coercion ends and where local consent may begin,” wrote Adrian Zenz, the researcher who found the documents.
China has come under intense pressure over the treatment of its ethical minorities including other policies in Xinjiang. Many rights group allege as many as 1 million Uighurs have been held in internment camps.
In response, Beijing has clarified that the heavily guarded centres are educational and vocational institutes and that many people have attended, graduated and gone home.
