The 15-year jail sentence imposed by a Chinese court on journalist Gheyrat Niyaz (aka Halaite Niyazi) has outraged human rights and press freedom groups across the world.
The Uighur journalist was found guilty of "endangering national security" for critical writings and comments he made to foreign media after last year's ethnic riots in China's Xinjiang region.
His sentence is among the harshest handed down for someone who committed no violence during the riots or for an Uighur airing dissenting opinions in recent years.
Niyaz, who is 51, previously helped to edit a website about Uighur culture and life, and he also wrote a personal blog. Several of these writings were presented at his trial.
A statement posted on the website quoted Niyaz's wife as saying that although he did give interviews to foreign media he had no malicious intentions.
Almost 200 people died and 1,700 were injured when ethnic violence broke out in Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi in July last year.
Niyaz's sentence has been condemned by Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters without Borders.
Sources: AP/Amnesty International/RSF
