Jul 16, 2004

East Turkestan: Amnesty International condemns Execution of Uyghur "Separatist"


Reports have emerged of the execution an alleged Uighur "separatist" in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China
Reports have emerged of the execution an alleged Uighur "separatist" in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. According to the Xinjiang Legal News, reported today by Reuters, Kuerban Tudaji was sentenced to death on 30 June after being convicted of "manufacturing explosives, firearms and ammunition", "attempting to split the country" and "organising terrorist training" between 1998 and 2000.

He had reportedly declared a jihad or "holy war" against China. No further details are available about the evidence against him or whether he had access to a lawyer.

Amnesty International strongly condemned the reported execution, voicing concern that Kuerban Tudaji did not receive a fair trial. The organisation urges the Chinese authorities to make public the nature of the evidence against him and whether he had full guarantees for his defence.