This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/19/world/asia/trial-of-uighur-scholar-ilham-tohti-ends-in-china.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trial of Uighur Scholar Ends in China Trial of Uighur Scholar Ends in China
(about 1 hour later)
URUMQI, China — The trial of a prominent ethnic Uighur economics professor, Ilham Tohti, on charges of separatism ended on Thursday evening with no verdict or sentencing, which will be announced later, a lawyer for Mr. Tohti said.URUMQI, China — The trial of a prominent ethnic Uighur economics professor, Ilham Tohti, on charges of separatism ended on Thursday evening with no verdict or sentencing, which will be announced later, a lawyer for Mr. Tohti said.
On the second day of the trial, Mr. Tohti spoke in his own defense in the afternoon and insisted that he had not engaged in any separatist activities, the lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan, said on Twitter.On the second day of the trial, Mr. Tohti spoke in his own defense in the afternoon and insisted that he had not engaged in any separatist activities, the lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan, said on Twitter.
Mr. Tohti also asked that the case be moved to a court in Beijing, where has lived and worked for many years, rather than remain in a court in Urumqi, the capital of the western region of Xinjiang, which has been the scene in recent years of growing violence between Uighurs and Han, the dominant ethnicity in China. Mr. Tohti also asked that the case be moved to a court in Beijing, where he has lived and worked for many years, rather than remain in a court in Urumqi, the capital of the western region of Xinjiang, which has been the scene in recent years of growing violence between Uighurs and Han, the dominant ethnicity in China.
Scholars, diplomats and human rights advocates say that the charges against Mr. Tohti are spurious, and that China is using this trial to send a message to even moderate Uighurs to quiet any dissent. Mr. Liu said that the defense lawyers had asked the court to call more than 10 witnesses for the defense, but that the court did not contact any of them.Scholars, diplomats and human rights advocates say that the charges against Mr. Tohti are spurious, and that China is using this trial to send a message to even moderate Uighurs to quiet any dissent. Mr. Liu said that the defense lawyers had asked the court to call more than 10 witnesses for the defense, but that the court did not contact any of them.