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Uyghur and Turkic Muslims: Forced Labour in China

06 November 2024

Lead MP

Blair McDougall
East Renfrewshire
Lab

Responding Minister

Douglas Alexander

Tags

EconomyBrexitForeign Affairs
Word Count: 10869
Other Contributors: 6

At a Glance

Blair McDougall raised concerns about uyghur and turkic muslims: forced labour in china in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

The UK should introduce legislation similar to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in the US, which creates a presumption that goods from Xinjiang are produced through forced labour. Import inspections on direct flights from Ürümqi to Bournemouth should be carried out to prevent products compromised by Muslim slave labour.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

East Renfrewshire
Opened the debate
The persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims since 2017 has been unprecedented, with over 1 million imprisoned in camps and up to 3 million passing through them. Forced sterilisation, abortion, sexual violence, and cultural destruction are widespread. The forced labour programme is an integral part of China's project, affecting industries such as cotton, automotive, and solar panel manufacturing.

Government Response

Douglas Alexander
Government Response
The Government are deeply concerned about human rights abuses in Xinjiang and have taken actions such as sanctions against officials linked to violations. The UK addresses forced labour through the Modern Slavery Act, Procurement Act, and free trade agreements. They also engage with China on human rights issues at high levels of government. The solar taskforce has been relaunched to develop sustainable supply chains free from forced labour.
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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.