Speaking before the UK Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Rahima Mahmut highlighted evidence linking forced labour in China to various industries, particularly cotton, and called for urgent action to address it in UK supply chains.
Stop Uyghur Genocide Executive Director Rahima Mahmut has called for urgent action to address the presence of forced labour in UK supply chains. Speaking before the UK Parliament’s Human Rights Committee on January 27, 2025, Mahmut highlighted mounting evidence linking forced labour in China to various industries, particularly cotton production.
“Due to the mounting evidence that the Chinese government is using forced labour in the production of cotton and many different industries, this led the World Uyghur Congress to take legal action,” Mahmut said. She underscored that almost all products originating from East Turkestan are tainted by slave labour. “Therefore, we believe this inquiry is extremely important,” she added.
— Uygur News (@Uygur_News) February 1, 2025
Campaign for Uyghurs President and World Uyghur Congress Executive Director, Rushan Abbas, stated, “There is undeniable evidence linking cotton, tomatoes, solar panels, and many other industries to Uyghur forced labor. It’s time for the UK to take a stand, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect its market from being complicit in human rights abuses.”
Last year, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that the UK National Crime Agency’s failure to investigate the importation of cotton made using Uyghur forced labour from China was illegal. This decision, obtained by the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), marked a turning point for UK merchants.
The ruling underscored the legal risks faced by businesses importing goods made using forced labour. According to the court’s decision, companies that import commodities knowingly linked to illegal activities, such as Uyghur forced labour, could face prosecution under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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