Chinese Court Condemns 6 Ethnic Uighurs to Death for Xinjiang Riots

A Chinese court has handed down death sentences to six men for their involvement in a riot in the far northwestern region of Xinjiang. Violence sparked by the rioting left nearly 200 people dead and more than 1,600 others injured.

In the first cases directly related to the deadly July riots in Xinjiang, official media say six men were sentenced to death Monday for murder and other crimes. One other defendant was sentenced to life in prison.

Xinjiang regional government spokesman Li Jie confirmed all seven men were ethnic Uighurs. He was asked if he thought the sentences would stir up more violence in Xinjiang.

Li says it is hard to say how ordinary people will react, but he says the sentences are impartial. He says the courts later will hand down more sentences related to the riot. He adds that everything will be handled according to the law.

Dilxat Rixit, with the World Uighur Congress, says the sentences are not fair and the defendants did not receive a proper defense.

Rixit says the defendants' court-appointed lawyers only acted in the Chinese government's interest.

Late last week, one man was sentenced to death and another to life in prison for their part in a toy factory brawl last June in China's southern Guangdong province. Two ethnic Uighurs were killed in the violence that sparked the rioting in Xinjiang.

Official media gave no details, but the names of the two men suggest they are ethnic Han, China's majority ethnic group.

The rioting in July in Xinjiang was some of China's worst ethnic violence in decades. Uighurs, angry over the deaths in Guangdong, led a protest march that police say ended in attacks on Han in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi. Han Chinese retaliated two days later, and attacked Uighurs, before Chinese troops restored order.

The Turkic-speaking Uighurs have long complained of discrimination by the Han, and say the government severely restricts their Muslim religious practices. The Chinese government says there is no discrimination and Uighurs, like other ethnic minorities, receive benefits the Han majority does not.