LONDON – A new 60-page document submitted to the UK’s customs authorities urges government to ban the import of cotton from Xinjiang, China, over persistent allegations of forced labour in the province.
Written by the World Uighur Congress (WUC) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the document addresses the high-profile case in which more than a million Uighur Muslims are thought to be held in detention facilities, where they’re indoctrinated and forced to work.
It’s well-established that leading fashion brands source to varying extents from the region, with some companies and even the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) suspending operations in light of concerns.
Now, the WUC and GLAN would like to see the UK government take a firm stance opposing the alleged abuses in Xinjiang – where it’s said that upwards of 80 per cent of China’s cotton is cultivated – and ban imports of the material.
