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Canada angry at Uighur sentence Canada angry at Uighur sentence
(about 3 hours later)
Canada has condemned the authorities in China for sentencing a Canadian Uighur rights activist to life imprisonment.Canada has condemned the authorities in China for sentencing a Canadian Uighur rights activist to life imprisonment.
Huseyincan Celil was jailed for crimes of "splitting the motherland" and participating in terrorist groups, according to China's state media.Huseyincan Celil was jailed for crimes of "splitting the motherland" and participating in terrorist groups, according to China's state media.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said he was deeply disappointed at the sentence, and very concerned about claims Celil had been tortured. Celil, who was born in China but gained Canadian citizenship as a political refugee, was arrested in Uzbekistan and deported to China last year.
Mr MacKay said the case had harmed relations between the two countries. Canada said it was concerned about claims that Celil had been tortured.
'Stakes are high' Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said he was disappointed at the sentence and said the case had harmed relations between the two countries.
Celil was born in Xinjiang, home to the ethnic Uighur people. "The stakes are very high for Mr Celil, and certainly this case has had a spillover impact on Canada's relationship with China," Mr MacKay told reporters.
CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture Celil was born in Xinjiang, home to the ethnic Uighur people.
Xinjiang - which is predominantly Muslim, and borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia - has long desired autonomy from Beijing.Xinjiang - which is predominantly Muslim, and borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia - has long desired autonomy from Beijing.
But Beijing insists it is part of China, and accuses militant groups of using violence in their struggle to set up an independent East Turkestan state.But Beijing insists it is part of China, and accuses militant groups of using violence in their struggle to set up an independent East Turkestan state.
CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture Celil left the area in the 1990s and arrived in Canada as a political refugee in 2001. He was given Canadian citizenship, although this has never been recognised by China. Celil left the area in the 1990s and arrived in Canada as a political refugee in 2001. He was given Canadian citizenship, although this has never been recognised by China.
According to his wife, Kamila Telendibaeva, he was arrested in Uzbekistan in May 2006 and deported to China, where he was taken into custody.According to his wife, Kamila Telendibaeva, he was arrested in Uzbekistan in May 2006 and deported to China, where he was taken into custody.
Canadian officials have since been trying to gain access to him, and are angry that he had to appear at his trial - in the Urumqi Intermediate People's Court in Xinjiang - without a Canadian diplomat present.Canadian officials have since been trying to gain access to him, and are angry that he had to appear at his trial - in the Urumqi Intermediate People's Court in Xinjiang - without a Canadian diplomat present.
Mr MacKay told reporters: "The stakes are very high for Mr Celil, and certainly this case has had a spillover impact on Canada's relationship with China."
He also said his nation was "gravely concerned about allegations that Mr Celil has been mistreated while in Chinese custody and possibly subjected to torture".
Mr McKay is due to visit China later this month, and he has made clear that he will raise Celil's predicament during talks.Mr McKay is due to visit China later this month, and he has made clear that he will raise Celil's predicament during talks.
"We don't intend to let this case go," he told reporters. "We don't intend to let this case go," he said.
But earlier on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said: "The case of Huseyincan Celil is an internal affair, and Canada has no right to interfere." Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said: "The case of Huseyincan Celil is an internal affair, and Canada has no right to interfere."