EU Parliament condemns China over Uyghur 'exploitation'

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution which strongly condemns China over allegations of forced labor by minority groups. "Parliament strongly condemns the Chinese government-led system of forced labour -- in particular the exploitation of Uyghur, ethnic Kazakh and Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minority groups -- in factories within and outside internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region," the EU body said in a statement Friday.

The statement went on to denounce "the continued transfer of forced labourers to other Chinese administrative divisions, and the fact that well-known European brands and companies have been benefiting from forced Chinese labour."

China has consistently denied allegations of forced labor and other claims of human rights abuses in the area, which is home to about 11 million Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority that speak a language closely related to Turkish and have their own distinct culture. Earlier this month, the US blocked cotton imports from Xinjiang over forced labor concerns. US President-Elect Joe Biden has also condemned the treatment of minorities in the region.

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