Ismail Semed

Date(s) of Arrest:
2003
Prison Terms:
Executed
Charges:
Attempting to split the motherland, possession of firearms and explosives
Crime:
Advocating Uyghur human rights

A single bullet to the heart executed Ismail Semed on February 8, 2007. Semed had been accused by the Communist authorities of founding an Islamic terrorist group; in reality, he was a vocal Uyghur human rights advocate. Semed had been studying law in Pakistan when he was extradited to China. Human rights groups worldwide decried the unfairness of his trial, where only spurious (and likely coerced) second-hand testimony connected Semed to the alleged terrorist group. His confession was likely extracted by torture.