Thursday, December 24, 2009

China to execute five more for Xinjiang unrest

Thursday, December 24, 2009
By Robert Saiget
AFP

BEIJING — Five more people have been sentenced to death over ethnic violence in July in China's Xinjiang region, an official said Thursday, as Beijing's human rights record comes under a harsh new spotlight.
The sentences bring to 22 the number of people condemned to die or executed over the unrest in the Xinjiang capital Urumqi, which pitted mainly Muslim Uighurs against China's Han ethnic majority and left nearly 200 dead.
The first executions last month of nine people for their roles in the violence drew sharp criticism from the United States, the European Union and rights groups concerned that the accused had not been guaranteed due process.
Eight others were sentenced to death earlier this month.

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