Human Rights Watch said on Monday that China's actions in Xinjiang could meet criteria for crimes against humanity, calling for a U.N. investigation into "widespread" abuses and for businesses to shun goods made in the region.
The U.S.-based activist group said there was evidence of ongoing egregious abuses targeting Turkic Muslims, which include Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz people. China has consistently denied all accusations of abuse in Xinjiang.
"Given the gravity of the abuses against Turkic Muslims, there is a pressing need for concerned governments to take strong, coordinated action to advance accountability," Human Rights Watch said.