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Prominent Uighur academic Ilham Tohti jailed for life Prominent Uighur academic Ilham Tohti jailed for life
(35 minutes later)
A court in China has found a prominent Uighur scholar guilty of separatism and jailed him for life, his lawyer says.A court in China has found a prominent Uighur scholar guilty of separatism and jailed him for life, his lawyer says.
Ilham Tohti, a former university academic, has spoken out on the government's policies towards the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive region of Xinjiang. Ilham Tohti, a university academic, has spoken out against the government's policies towards the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive region of Xinjiang.
Tohti, who denies the charges against him, has been detained since January. The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says China is taking a tougher line on those deemed "separatists".
The EU, US and the United Nations have called for his release. Amnesty International has called the verdict "deplorable".
Tohti, who denies the charges against him, has been detained since January. The EU, US and the United Nations have all called for his release.
The Urumqi People's Intermediate Court found Tohti guilty after a two-day trial that ended last week.The Urumqi People's Intermediate Court found Tohti guilty after a two-day trial that ended last week.
His lawyer, Li Fangping, told BBC Chinese that his client will not accept the verdict and added that "he will file an appeal without a doubt". His lawyer, Li Fangping, told BBC Chinese that his client yelled out "I won't give in!" as he was taken away after the verdict. He added that he will be filing an appeal.
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says China has been taking an increasingly tough line on anyone who might be deemed "separatists". "He told us that no matter the verdict, he will not be angry nor seek revenge. No matter whether he is in jail or if he is freed in the future, he will still advocate for dialogue between Uighurs and Han Chinese," he said.
The court has ordered all of Tohti's money and property seized and he can expect to serve at least 12 years, our correspondent adds. The court also ordered all of Tohti's money and property seized and he can expect to serve at least 12 years, says our correspondent.
Uighurs and Xinjiang
Who are the Uighurs?
'Deplorable''Deplorable'
In recent years Xinjiang has seen rising tensions between Uighurs and Han Chinese migrants, and observers say the sentence could further stoke tensions.In recent years Xinjiang has seen rising tensions between Uighurs and Han Chinese migrants, and observers say the sentence could further stoke tensions.
The Chinese government blames Uighur separatists for a series of recent attacks in which hundreds of people have died.The Chinese government blames Uighur separatists for a series of recent attacks in which hundreds of people have died.
But critics of the government say it is Beijing's harsh policies and restrictions on Uighurs and their religion that have led to the rise in violence. But critics of the government say it is Beijing's harsh policies and restrictions on Uighurs and their cultural and religious practices that have fuelled the rise in violence.
Tohti was detained after he criticised Beijing's response to a suicide car attack near Tiananmen Square. The government blamed that incident on separatists from Xinjiang. Tohti was detained after he criticised Beijing's heavy response to a suicide car attack near Tiananmen Square carried out by Uighurs from Xinjiang.
Prosecutors at the trial alleged he was engaging in separatist activities including promoting independence on his website, according to his lawyers.Prosecutors at the trial alleged he was engaging in separatist activities including promoting independence on his website, according to his lawyers.
Tohti, who is ethnic Uighur, is seen outside China as a moderate voice who has campaigned for better dialogue between Beijing and the Uighur community.Tohti, who is ethnic Uighur, is seen outside China as a moderate voice who has campaigned for better dialogue between Beijing and the Uighur community.
Human rights group Amnesty International has called the verdict "deplorable" saying it was an "affront to justice". Human rights group Amnesty International said the verdict was an "affront to justice" and full of legal shortcomings.
The group said the trial was full of legal shortcomings.
"His legal team were refused access to evidence and they were unable to meet Tohti for six months. One of Tohti's lawyers was also forced to quit the case following political pressure," the group said."His legal team were refused access to evidence and they were unable to meet Tohti for six months. One of Tohti's lawyers was also forced to quit the case following political pressure," the group said.
Liu Xiaoyuan, a lawyer for Tohti, told the BBC that several foreign embassies were not allowed into the court to witness the proceedings.