Thread by @LogicalIndians

Multinational retail giants @hm
and @Nike are facing severe criticism on Chinese social media following their statements expressing profound concern over forced #labour reports in northwestern #Xinjiang province.

@hm @Nike In September last year, H&M issued a statement in response to the growing international scrutiny of China's use of Uyghurs in forced labour in Xinjiang.

@hm @Nike In the statement, the clothing retailer stated that it was "deeply concerned about reports from civil society organisations and the media alleging forced labour and persecution against ethnoreligious minorities" in Xinjiang.

@hm @Nike It also added that it had stopped buying cotton from the region's growers.

@hm @Nike Amid the escalating row over the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, several countries have imposed sanctions. Britain, Canada, the European Union, and the United States declared sanctions on Chinese officials and accused China of violating human rights on Monday, March 22.

@hm @Nike Nearly one in every five cotton garments sold worldwide includes cotton or yarn from the region.

@hm @Nike The officials in that region have turned as many as 10 lakh Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other predominantly Muslim minorities into model workers obedient to the Communist Party by forced labour programmes and mass internment.

@hm @Nike Popular sports brand Nike also could be under scrutiny as the company released a statement on its website expressing concern over forced labour reports in Xinjiang on Wednesday.

@hm @Nike According to the statement, "Nike does not source products from the XUAR, and we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they are not using textiles or spun yarn from the region."

@hm @Nike H&M China issued a statement on Wednesday on the Sina Weibo site, stating the company did not represent any political position.

@hm @Nike "H&M Group respects Chinese consumers as always," adding that "We are committed to long-term investment and development in China," the company's statement read.

#ughurmuslims #chineselabour