This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/31/death-penalty-china-mass-stabbing-court-kunming

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
China upholds death penalty for three who led mass stabbing in Kunming China upholds death penalty for three who led mass stabbing in Kunming
(about 2 hours later)
A Chinese appeal court has upheld death sentences for three people convicted over a mass stabbing this year in which 31 people were killed, say state media.A Chinese appeal court has upheld death sentences for three people convicted over a mass stabbing this year in which 31 people were killed, say state media.
“The higher people’s court of Yunnan province rejected Hasayn Muhammad’s appeal and upheld the penalty meted out by the Kunming municipal intermediate people’s court last month,” Xinhua said in a dispatch from Kunming.“The higher people’s court of Yunnan province rejected Hasayn Muhammad’s appeal and upheld the penalty meted out by the Kunming municipal intermediate people’s court last month,” Xinhua said in a dispatch from Kunming.
The intermediate court in the south-western Chinese city had convicted and sentenced to death Muhammad and two others, Iskandar Ehet and Turgun Tohtunyaz, for “leading a terrorist group” that planned and carried out the attack at the city’s railway station on 1 March. Though Xinhua only mentioned Muhammad’s appeal, it said the court upheld the sentences of the other two men as well. The intermediate court in the south-western Chinese city had convicted and sentenced to death Muhammad and two others, Iskandar Ehet and Turgun Tohtunyaz, for “leading a terrorist group” that planned and carried out the attack at the city’s railway station on 1 March. Though Xinhua mentioned only Muhammad’s appeal, it said the court upheld the sentences of the other two men as well.
In a separate report on its website, Xinhua said the court also upheld a term of life in prison for a pregnant woman also convicted for taking part in the attack. In a separate report on its website, Xinhua said the court upheld a term of life in prison for a pregnant woman also convicted for taking part in the attack.
The next step in the judicial process is for the death sentences to be reviewed by China’s supreme court.The next step in the judicial process is for the death sentences to be reviewed by China’s supreme court.
More than 140 people were injured during the incident in Kunming, in the south-western province of Yunnan; state media called it “China’s 9/11”.More than 140 people were injured during the incident in Kunming, in the south-western province of Yunnan; state media called it “China’s 9/11”.
Beijing blamed the mass knifing on “separatists” from the resource-rich far western region of Xinjiang, where at least 200 have died in attacks and clashes between locals and security forces over the past year. It was the biggest ever violent incident against civilians outside the region. Incidents have grown in scale and sophistication and have spread outside the restive area since late last year. Beijing blamed the mass knifing on “separatists” from the resource-rich far western region of Xinjiang, where at least 200 people have died in attacks and clashes between locals and security forces over the past year. It was the biggest ever violent incident against civilians outside the region. Incidents have grown in scale and sophistication and have spread outside the restive area since late last year.
Rights groups accuse China’s government of cultural and religious repression they say fuels unrest in Xinjiang, which borders central Asia. China defends its policies, arguing that it has boosted economic development in the area and that it upholds minority and religious rights in a country with 56 recognised ethnic groups. Rights groups accuse China’s government of cultural and religious repression which they say fuels unrest in Xinjiang, bordered with central Asia. China defends its policies, arguing that it has boosted economic development in the area and that it upholds minority and religious rights in a country with 56 recognised ethnic groups.