CAIRO – China's execution of eight Uighur Muslims on charges of involvement in the recent deadly unrest in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang region drew fire from Uighur leaders in exile. "The executions of these men exacerbate the terror and helplessness of Uighurs in East Turkestan whose friends and loved ones have been killed and detained since July 5," Rebiya Kadeer, the iconic leader of the Uighur American Association (UAA) said in a statement mailed to IslamOnline.
"They add to the unknown number of Uighurs who were already killed on July 5 and in detention following July 5."
China said Monday, November 9, it had put to death nine people over deadly unrest in Xinjiang.
Authorities did not give the identities of the nine but eight of nine people sentenced to death in October were Uighurs.
It was not clear when the executions took place.
Xinjiang was plunged into turmoil in July after thousands of Uighurs protested prevailing discrimination and religious and cultural controls in their region.
Some 197 people were killed and more than 1,600 injured in the violence which pit Uighurs against members of China's dominant Han group.
Authorities convicted 21 defendants in October on charges of murder, intentional damage to property, arson, and robbery.
"I fear that the executions and killings of Uighurs will continue as China begins an intensified drive to 'strike hard' against the Uighur people," warned Kadeer.
Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims, a Turkish-speaking minority of more than eight million, continue to be the subject of massive security crackdowns.
Muslims accuses the government of settling millions of ethnic Han in their territory with the ultimate goal of obliterating its identity and culture.
Beijing views the vast region as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves.
Politicized
Exiled Uighur groups said the trials were politicized and did not adhere to standards of domestic or international law.
"We don't think they got a fair trial, and we believe this was a political verdict," said Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uighur Congress.
The Uighur groups insisted that political criteria were used to select judicial personnel assigned to handle the trials.
They cited statements by officials even before trial, including Communist Party official Li Zhi who told reporters on July 8 that executions would be used to deal with those involved in the unrest.
The Uighur leaders said the trials were hampered by state-sanctioned threats against lawyers not to represent the defendants.
Washington reacted to the executions by urging China to ensure fair trials.
"The US government continues to urge China to handle all detentions and judicial processes relating to the Urumqi violence in a transparent manner," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.
"We also urge China to ensure that the legal rights of all Chinese citizens are respected in accordance with international standards of due process."
But Uighur leaders were disappointing by the mild international reactions to the executions.
"The US and the EU did not put any pressure on China or seek to intervene and for that we are extremely disappointed," Raxit said.
The executions came ahead of US President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to China next week.
"The fact that Chinese authorities had the audacity to carry out these executions on the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to China displays their utter disregard for international human rights standards," Kadeer said.
He urged for a full investigation into the killings and detentions of Uighurs since July 5.
"Chinese authorities must be held to account for their actions, or tensions in East Turkestan will worsen even further."
Source: IslamOnline
"They add to the unknown number of Uighurs who were already killed on July 5 and in detention following July 5."
China said Monday, November 9, it had put to death nine people over deadly unrest in Xinjiang.
Authorities did not give the identities of the nine but eight of nine people sentenced to death in October were Uighurs.
It was not clear when the executions took place.
Xinjiang was plunged into turmoil in July after thousands of Uighurs protested prevailing discrimination and religious and cultural controls in their region.
Some 197 people were killed and more than 1,600 injured in the violence which pit Uighurs against members of China's dominant Han group.
Authorities convicted 21 defendants in October on charges of murder, intentional damage to property, arson, and robbery.
"I fear that the executions and killings of Uighurs will continue as China begins an intensified drive to 'strike hard' against the Uighur people," warned Kadeer.
Xinjiang and its Uighur Muslims, a Turkish-speaking minority of more than eight million, continue to be the subject of massive security crackdowns.
Muslims accuses the government of settling millions of ethnic Han in their territory with the ultimate goal of obliterating its identity and culture.
Beijing views the vast region as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves.
Politicized
Exiled Uighur groups said the trials were politicized and did not adhere to standards of domestic or international law.
"We don't think they got a fair trial, and we believe this was a political verdict," said Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uighur Congress.
The Uighur groups insisted that political criteria were used to select judicial personnel assigned to handle the trials.
They cited statements by officials even before trial, including Communist Party official Li Zhi who told reporters on July 8 that executions would be used to deal with those involved in the unrest.
The Uighur leaders said the trials were hampered by state-sanctioned threats against lawyers not to represent the defendants.
Washington reacted to the executions by urging China to ensure fair trials.
"The US government continues to urge China to handle all detentions and judicial processes relating to the Urumqi violence in a transparent manner," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.
"We also urge China to ensure that the legal rights of all Chinese citizens are respected in accordance with international standards of due process."
But Uighur leaders were disappointing by the mild international reactions to the executions.
"The US and the EU did not put any pressure on China or seek to intervene and for that we are extremely disappointed," Raxit said.
The executions came ahead of US President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to China next week.
"The fact that Chinese authorities had the audacity to carry out these executions on the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to China displays their utter disregard for international human rights standards," Kadeer said.
He urged for a full investigation into the killings and detentions of Uighurs since July 5.
"Chinese authorities must be held to account for their actions, or tensions in East Turkestan will worsen even further."
Source: IslamOnline
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