Criminal case
Complaint by Sherpa and others against Uniqlo France, Inditex, SMCP and Skechers
- Authority
- French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (crimes against humanity unit), Paris investigating judge and Paris Court of Appeal investigation chamber
- Case number
- Not published
- Filed or opened
- 2021
- Organization
- Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
- Current stage
- Inquiry halted on 12 April 2023. The complaint of 16 May 2023 met an order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate in May 2024, confirmed on appeal in February 2025S6. A further complaint was announced.
- Outcome
- Both the 2021 inquiry and the 2023 complaint closed without a finding on the facts. No later filing or outcome found as of October 2026.
Decisions and steps
Claims this case bears on
- Outdated71Reuters reported in July 2021 that French prosecutors had opened an investigation into Uniqlo France and three other retailers over suspected concealment of crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.Press report, 2 July 20214 records citedCorporate status
- Unresolved44Fast Retailing said in July 2021 that none of its production partners were in Xinjiang and in May 2023 that there is no forced labour in its supply chains.Company statement, 17 May 20234 records citedProduct claims
Sources
- S2Tier C France probes fashion retailers for concealing 'crimes against humanity' in XinjiangReuters (via Nippon.com). Press report. 2 July 2021.Report by Benoit Van Overstraeten on the inquiry opening and the Fast Retailing statement. Its status was overtaken in 2023.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier C France drops fashion group probe over Uyghur labourJusticeInfo.net (AFP). Press report. 4 May 2023.Reports the April 2023 closure for lack of jurisdiction. It is not a finding on the facts.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier C Travail forcé des Ouïghours : une plainte en France déclarée irrecevable mais une autre bientôt déposéeFashionUnited (AFP). Press report. 6 February 2025.AFP report with no named reporter. It says the Paris appeal court's investigation chamber confirmed a May 2024 order of lack of competence and refusal to investigate, and that a new complaint was planned. It does not give the court's reasons.Link working, checked 25 October 2026