Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


          World Powers Condemn Life Sentence Given to Chinese Scholar

   by VOA News

   Western powers are criticizing China's decision to sentence a
   well-known Uighur scholar to life in prison on charges of separatism.

   A court in the western region of Xinjiang on Tuesday handed the life
   sentence to Ilham Tohti, an economics professor who disagreed with
   China's treatment of minority Uighurs.

   Tohti's sentence was seen as especially harsh, since the scholar was
   viewed as a moderate within the Uighur community who had consistently,
   but peacefully, pushed for equal rights for the mostly Muslim ethnic
   group.

   Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. is "deeply disturbed" by
   the sentence. Kerry said silencing peaceful dissenters such as Tohti
   will only make tensions worse in Xinjiang, where unrest has killed
   hundreds in recent months.

   White House officials said they are "deeply concerned" at the verdict
   against Tohti, who they called a "respected professor who has long
   championed efforts to bridge differences between Uighurs and Han
   Chinese."

   In a statement, the European Union deplored what it called the
   "completely unjustified" ruling. It said Beijing had not respected the
   due process of law and urged China to release Tohti immediately and
   unconditionally.

   China's foreign ministry on Tuesday rejected international criticism of
   the verdict, calling it inappropriate interference in China's judicial
   integrity and sovereignty.

   The verdict comes amid China's crackdown on dissent and violent
   extremism in Xinjiang. Beijing says it is fighting foreign-backed
   Muslim fighters who are trying to form a separate state in Xinjiang.

   Exiled Uighur groups and many international human rights groups say
   China is exaggerating the threat. They say the violence is being
   provoked by China's preferential treatment of Han Chinese.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/world-powers-condemn-life-sentence-fo
   r-chinese-scholar-ilham-tohti/2460412.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/world-powers-condemn-life-sentence-for-chinese-scholar-ilham-tohti/2460412.html