Washington (United States) (AFP) - The coffee chain Starbucks received strong criticism from an influential American legislator and a human rights group for opening stores in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where there are allegations of abuses against the Uyghur Muslim population.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 15:18

The American coffee giant opened two stores in Urumqi, the regional capital, on Tuesday in an initiative celebrated by Chinese state media.

The United Nations warned in 2022 of possible crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, including the detention of more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in re-education camps.

Human rights organizations maintain that serious abuses, including forced labor, still occur in the region.

John Moolenaar, chairman of the US House Committee on China, called the opening of the two cafes "morally outrageous" in a statement released Thursday.

The initiative "links an iconic American brand to the CCP's brutal campaign against the Uyghurs," he said, referring to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The World Uyghur Congress, a group defending the rights of this minority, stated that Starbucks "is once again choosing to ignore a serious human rights situation (...) by opening stores in the region."

"Businesses should not contribute to an economy where state-imposed forced labor remains a serious concern," the organization added in a social media post.

The Chinese government denies the accusations and claims that its policies in Xinjiang have eradicated extremism and promoted economic development.

The United States has imposed sanctions in response to alleged abuses and several Western brands have come under fire for their ties to Xinjiang.

The Chinese government has invested significantly in Xinjiang, one of the country's fastest-growing regions in 2025, while also promoting a tourism boom.

Last year, Starbucks announced the sale of a majority stake in its China operations to investment firm Boya Capital, hoping to revitalize its business in its second-largest market.

© 2026 AFP

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