China sentences 20 people over violence

Published on 03/08/2012 00:45

China has sentenced 20 people to up to 15 years in jail for advocating violence and separatism in the far western region of Xinjiang, where the central government has clamped down on dissent and restricted religious practices.

The state-run Xinjiang Daily said yesterday that courts in Aksu, Kashgar and Urumqi heard five cases involving the 20 and found they had used the internet to organise, lead and participate in terrorist groups.

The courts said four of them made illegal explosives.