Nov 17, 2009

Chairwoman Heidi Hautala Laments Uyghur Executions


Active ImageHeidi Hautala, chairwoman of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, expressed her sadness concerning the Chinese execution of 8 Uyghurs.

 

 

The following statement was published on Heidi Hautala's official website:

Chairwoman Hautala has received with great sadness the news that the Chinese authorities have executed on Monday 10 November eight Uyghurs and one Han Chinese person charged and sentenced for the July riots in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Several more people have been arrested and the arrests were still continuing on Monday 9 November. Chairwoman Hautala has stressed that it is of utmost importance that all the people who have been arrested are treated in line with international human rights standards and that those who have been charged receive a fair trial and do not face the death penalty. Chairwoman Hautala also calls for the Chinese authorities to openly investigate all acts of violence in relation to the July events, including the possible excessive use of force on behalf of the state forces.

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A full background report on the situation of the Uyghurs can be downloaded here.

For more information on the recent executions, please click here.