BEIJING – 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 on 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 groundless charges brought against Niyazi, and the severe sentence he has received, are bound to foment extremist thoughts and actions and deepen ethnic tensions,’ the letter said.

 ‘Chinese citizens of all ethnicities, including Han and Uighur, are affected negatively by this sentence.’ The letter said Niyaz tried to warn officials of possible violence after tracking online reactions to a fight between Uighur and Han Chinese workers at a toy factory in southern China in which two Uighurs died. — AFP

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