Ismail Semed
Uyghur activist
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Ismail Semed was an Uighur activist executed by China for possession of illegal firearms and explosives. He was accused of "attempting to split the motherland".[1][2]
A Chinese court found Semed guilty of possession of illegal firearms and explosives and separatism for involvement in the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which is considered a terrorist group by China and other countries including the United States. He was executed by firing squad on 8 February 2007 in Urumqi.[2][3][4][5]
Human rights group said the evidence was insufficient. Nicholas Bequelin, Hong Kong-based China researcher of Human Rights Watch, said:
"The death penalty was widely disproportionate to the alleged crimes ... his trial did not meet minimum requirements of fairness and due process."[6]