Death Sentences for Xinjiang Riots

elisabeth shaver
10/16
12:55

Earlier this year I wrote on the Xinjiang riots that occurred in the summer between the Han people, and the minority Uighur people. Now several people that were arrested in the riots have been sentenced to death over the ethnic unrest. They were charged with murder, robbery and arson. Nearly 200 people were killed this summer in the riots. Twenty-one people were arrested, 12 were sentenced to death, while 9 were given life sentences. Uighur activists say that the trials were a sham and would probably further ethnic unrest. The majority of those convicted were Uighur. The tension between the Uighurs and the Han have been steadily growing. The Uighurs want autonomy and the right to practice their culture and religion which is predominantly Muslim. The reports given by the Chinese government say the riots were caused by Uighur separatists who want an “Eastern Turkestan”.
This to me is an example of why it is so important for people to have inherent freedoms and rights. The freedom of religion is an important part of every individuals life. A person’s faith, or lack of one, is such a deeply personal belief. I can not imagine what it would be like to not be able to pray, or practice my religion. I would feel like I was less than human, being told what I was and was not allowed to feel and believe. I think that the violence that comes from this oppression is tragic, but inevitable. People want their rights, and eventually they will do whatever they have to in order to get them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8308169.stm