For the Uyghurs, these NGOs file a complaint in the hope that an investigation will be opened into all fashion brands

The forced labor of the Uyghurs in China derives in particular from the cotton massively used in the textile industry. NGOs had already filed a complaint in April 2021 in France against Uniqlo, SMCP (Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot), Inditex (Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, etc.) and Skechers USA on this matter. Closed without further action in April 2023, this complaint gives way to a new one with a civil party to ask for the opening of a judicial investigation, this time addressing all the clothing multinationals.

Are fashion brands hiding crimes against humanity with Uyghur cotton?

As announced on May 17, 2023 on the website of the Sherpa association, the association, together with the Collectif Éthique sur l’Étiquette, the Uyghur Institute of Europe and a Uyghur complainant, is launching a new procedure for the crime of concealment of 4 crimes:

“Crimes against humanity, genocide, aggravated servitude and human trafficking in organized gangs. The associations are asking for the opening of a judicial inquiry so that an investigating judge can investigate and shed light on the possible responsibilities of the clothing multinationals that would profit from the forced labor of the Uyghurs for the manufacture of their products. »

This problem goes well beyond the 4 groups mentioned in the first complaint, given that about 20% of world cotton production comes from Xinjiang, a Chinese province where the Uyghurs are particularly exploited by the textile industry. It almost seems that 1 out of 5 items containing cotton comes from the exploitation of this persecuted Muslim minority in China. It is therefore on all the clothing multinationals that the NGOs are calling for the opening of a new investigation.

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