China imposes death sentence on seven for murder and robbery

Seven people allegedly involved in plotting terrorism have been sentenced to death for robbery and murder in China’s far western region of Xinjiang, state-run media reported.

The official Tianshan website said today that China’s Supreme People’s Court approved the death penalty handed down to seven people by a court in Kashgar city.

It was unclear whether the seven are ethnic Uighurs. China has accused Uighur separatists of stirring riots in Xinjiang in July 2009 that left almost 200 people dead.

The report said the seven are among a dozen people who met and raised funds between June 2008 and October 2010 to carry out “violent, terrorist” activities.

It adds that the seven committed robbery and murder on three occasions last year.