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Prominent Uighur academic Ilham Tohti jailed for life China jails prominent Uighur academic Ilham Tohti 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 university academic, has spoken out against the government's policies towards the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive region of Xinjiang. Ilham Tohti, a university academic, has spoken out on the government's policies towards the Muslim Uighur minority in the restive region of Xinjiang.
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says China is taking a tougher line on those deemed "separatists". Correspondents say China is taking a tougher line on those deemed "separatists" amid rising Xinjiang-linked violence.
Amnesty International has called the verdict "deplorable".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.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 yelled out "I won't give in!" as he was taken away after the verdict. He added that he will be filing an appeal. His lawyer, Li Fangping, told BBC Chinese that he would be filing an appeal.
"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."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 also ordered all of Tohti's money and property seized and he can expect to serve at least 12 years, says our correspondent. The court also ordered all of Tohti's money and property seized.
Uighurs and Xinjiang Carrie Gracie, China Editor, BBC News
Who are the Uighurs? 'It's not just.' The last words Ilham Tohti uttered before police dragged him from a courtroom to start a life sentence for attempting to divide China.
Calling for independence is illegal and always punished severely when the offender belongs to China's minority Uighur community. But what is so extraordinary about the sentence is that Ilham Tohti was not an independence activist, far less a terrorist, but an outspoken advocate of building bridges between the two communities.
Until his arrest in January he was an academic at a university in the capital and a member of the Communist Party. In his academic essays and on the website he ran, he insisted that Xinjiang should remain part of China and frequently expressed revulsion against growing violence employed by Uighurs against the state.
But he likewise criticised the mounting police crackdown in Xinjiang, complaining that punitive policies were radicalising young Uighurs and convincing them that the battle was not between China and terrorists, but between China and Islam.
Today's life sentence is a message that amid the battle to contain Xinjiang's surging violence, there is no longer room in China for an outspoken moderate.
'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 inspired and supported by overseas terror groups 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 cultural and religious practices that have fuelled the rise in violence. But Uighur activists say Beijing's restrictions on Uighurs and their cultural and religious practices have fuelled the rise in violence.
Tohti was detained after he criticised Beijing's heavy response to a suicide car attack near Tiananmen Square carried out by Uighurs 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.
Uighurs and Xinjiang
Who are the Uighurs?
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 said the verdict was an "affront to justice" and full of legal shortcomings.Human rights group Amnesty International said the verdict was an "affront to justice" and 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.Liu Xiaoyuan, a lawyer for Tohti, told the BBC that several foreign embassies were not allowed into the court to witness the proceedings.