[JURIST] China’s official Xinhua News Agency [official website] released a report [Xinhua report, in Chinese] on Wednesday detailing the evidence used to convict prominent ethnic minority scholar of separatism Ilham Tohti to life in prison. The report gives a lengthy summary of the case against Tohti, including the 210 pieces of evidence introduced by prosecutors. The report states that Tohti used his profession as a teacher to spread his ideas about social issues, refused to admit guilt and did not show contrition, for which his crimes should be heavily punished. His life punishment has received harsh criticism from the international community. In response to the report, Tohti’s lawyer, Liu Xiaoyuan announced [NYT report] his anger that the state news media had issued evidence from the trial before the verdict had not yet taken effect. Tohti intends to appeal the verdict.

China’s leadership seeks to ease public concerns and maintain stability in light of recent violence. Last month Chinese officials in the western region of Xinjiang [official website, in Chinese] executed [JURIST report] eight individuals charged with terrorism- and separatism-related crimes. According to a press release, the execution was conducted with approval [Xinhua report] by the Supreme People’s Court [official website, in Chinese]. In May a “terror group” was arrested [BBC report] in Xinjiang with more than one ton of material for explosive devices. Also that week 31 people were killed, and more than 90 injured, when two cars drove through a busy street market in Xinjiang, setting off explosives [Guardian report]. In April both a bombing and a knife attack [CNN report] occurred in the South Railway Station of Urumqi.