China has carried out the previously announced death sentence against 9 people -8 ethnic Uighurs and one Han- involved in the violent clashes between these two communities in Urumqi last summer. Amnesty International (AI) has deplored the expected news and added the execution, which has been consummated on an unknown date, highlights Beijing has hastily executed the convicted offenders without a fair trial.

The international organization fears there may be further executions among the detainees, given the large number of detentions reported by Chinese officials in connection with the unrest, and calls on the Chinese government to "ensure that that the trials are conducted in line with International human rights standards, with transparency and without recourse to death penalty".

According to Amnesty International "statements made by Chinese officials following the unrest made it very difficult for a fair trial to be conducted". Urumqi's Communist Party Secretary said in a news conference after the riots that "brutal criminals will be sentenced to death". Furthermore, defendants were not allowed to choose legal representation of their choice, and human right lawyers were removed from the case. Beijing has not provided information on the trials, which were conducted without observers.

Finally, AI has interviewed witnesses stating that Chinese authorities used "excessive force against peaceful protesters including beatings, use of tear gas, and shooting directly into crowds of protesters". The organization has urged the Chinese government to investigate such accusations.

Més informació:

• AI: China: Hasty executions highlight unfair Xinjiang trials
• Reuters: China executes nine over Xinjiang riots: report
• AFP: US urges China fair trials after executions
• Nationalia:Dozens of Uighurs still disappeared after July riots in East Turkistan