Sentences for criminals remain in Xinjiang riot

The Higher People's Court of Xinjiang has upheld the sentences for 21 criminals, who were convicted of murder and other crimes in the deadly July 5th riot in Urumqi.

The court rejected the appeals of 15 people convicted and sentenced at the first trial, including the death penalty for nine of them. But it said the death penalty will take effect after the review and approval by the Supreme People's Court.

The 15 were convicted of murder, arson and other crimes. All three second-instance trials involving death penalties were heard in open sessions on Friday.

The court also reviewed and approved the penalties of six others who did not lodge appeals against the first-instance trial verdicts.