A group of prominent activists in China have signed an open letter protesting the heavy jail sentence for a Uighur journalist over deadly riots in the far-western Xinjiang region last year. The letter, signed by 23 human rights lawyers, academics and writers, is being circulated in China. A translated version was published by the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders on its website and sent to AFP Saturday.
It follows the sentencing last week of Uighur journalist Gheyret Niyaz to 15 years in jail on charges of "endangering national security" after speaking to foreign journalists about last year's deadly clashes in Xinjiang. Niyaz, who is also known as Hailaite Niyazi, was detained following the July 2009 violence between the Muslim Uighur minority and members of China's dominant Han ethnic group, which the government says left nearly 200 dead and 1,700 injured.
His arrest came after he criticised Chinese policy in Xinjiang in comments to foreign reporters. The men were imprisoned for terms ranging from three to 10 years on charges of "endangering national security" Radio Free Asia said Thursday, quoting the brother of one of them.