Ismail Semed Explained

Ismail Semed was an Uighur activist executed by China for possession of illegal firearms and explosives. He was accused of "attempting to split the motherland".^{[1] [2]}

A Chinese court found Semed guilty of possession of illegal firearms and explosives and separatism for involvement in the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which is considered a terrorist group by China and other countries including the United States. He was executed by firing squad on 8 February 2007 in Urumqi.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Human rights group said the evidence was insufficient. Nicholas Bequelin, Hong Kong-based China researcher of Human Rights Watch, said:

"The death penalty was widely disproportionate to the alleged crimes ... his trial did not meet minimum requirements of fairness and due process."^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: China 'executes' Uighur activist . 9 February 2007 . BBC News . 1 September 2018.
2. Web site: Muslim Executed for Trying to 'Split' China . 12 February 2007 . . 1 September 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000147/http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=4009 . 28 September 2007.
3. Web site: Uyghur political prisoner executed in Urumchi . 9 February 2007 . . 1 September 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100706171655/http://www.uyghuramerican.org/articles/801/1/Uyghur-political-prisoner-executed-in-Urumchi/index.html . 6 July 2010.
4. Web site: Persecution of Uyghurs in the Era of the "War on Terror" . 16 October 2007 . . 1 September 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110731044731/http://uhrp.org/docs/Persecution_of_Uyghurs_in_the_Era_of_the_War_on_Terror.pdf . 31 July 2011.
5. Web site: CHINA: FURTHER INFORMATION ON DEATH PENALTY / FEAR OF IMMINENT EXECUTION: ISMAIL SEMED. 15 February 2007. 9 May 2020. Amnesty International. Ismail Semed was executed on 8 February in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR)..
6. Web site: Muslim executed for trying to "split" China . 9 February 2007 . . 1 September 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071206132025/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP204811.htm . 6 December 2007.