A local court in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region recently decreased the sentence of 11 inmates for allegedly demonstrating repentance and regret over the crime committed, the regional politics and law committee revealed on Tuesday. Among the prisoners were formers heads of a terrorist cell and a separatist group.

Like Us on Facebook

The life imprisonment sentence of seven people was reduced to fixed terms by Xinjiang People's High Court. One of these seven individials is 42-year-old Memettohut Memetroz, who received specialized terrorist training in Afghanistan. He is the leader of East Turkestan Islamic Party, a terrorist group he founded together with the former head of East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a United Nations-labelled terrorist group. He established camps around Afghanistan and reportedly trained Xinjiang people to perform terrorist attacks.

Other than Memettohut, the sentences of Yushanjon Jilili, who became a key member of East Turkestan Islamic Movement after joining, and Memetjon Abudulkadeer, who has a doctoral degree and used his profession as an instructor to recruit members, were also reduced.

The verdict of four others were also slashed off by 6 months.

While giving a speech to other prisoners on Monday, Memettohout recalled that when he started serving his sentence more than a decade ago, he was confused as he was still under the influence of religious extremism. However, after being constantly visited by religious leaders, who taught him real Islam, he claims to now be able to see his crimes and realizes the damage he caused to others and the country. He further claimed that he will forever remember the day his sentence was reduced.

Xinjiang chairman Shohrat Zakir is delighted about how Xinjiang has transformed the lives of inmates who were once threats to national security into responsible citizens.

Tagsamnesty, justice system, china, court ruling