US Confiscates Human Hair Products From China Suspected Of Being Linked To Uighur Muslims

Photo illustration (Erwan Hesry / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - United States (US) customs officials confiscated products made from natural human hair shipped from China on Wednesday, July 1. Authorities in the US believe that the manufacture of the confiscated products involved Uighur Muslims in forced labor camps in Xinjiang Province, West China.

Launching CNA, the relevant authorities have found about eleven tons of weaving and other hair products worth around 800 thousand US dollars, equivalent to Rp11.5 billion in the shipment. Therefore, they confiscated all items believed to be in the process of making use of prisons and perpetuating forced labor, including involving children.

"The production of these items is a very serious human rights violation," said US Customs Assistant Executive Commissioner for Trade Brenda Smith.

"The restraining order is intended to send a clear and direct message to all entities wishing to do business with the US that illegal and inhuman practices will not be tolerated in the US supply chain," he added.

Not only that, Lop County Meixin as a company that exports human hair has been blacklisted for perpetuating forced labor in running a business. On that basis, the US Department of State Security, Commerce, Homeland Treasury issued an official announcement to importers to exercise caution in importing goods related to forced labor.

Moreover, the announcement is also aimed at domestic companies not to supply surveillance equipment in order to perpetuate forced labor in Xinjiang. In line with that, domestic companies were asked not to get involved in helping the Chinese authorities develop mass detention facilities for Muslims.

Then, businesses that open up to perpetuate forced labor must be watched out for. Starting from the risk of reputation, economy and from a legal perspective. "The Chinese government continues its campaign of repression in Xinjiang, targeting Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups," the US Department of State said.