BEIJING (Sputnik) — According to the China Daily newspaper, the convicts, which included former leaders of a Chinese terrorist cell and a separatist group, were given reduced sentences because they showed repentance and regret.
Xinjiang People's High Court cut the sentences of seven people from life imprisonment to fixed terms, while four people’s jail time was reduced by six months, the newspaper added.
One of the convicts, Memettohut Memetroz, founded the East Turkestan Islamic Party, which is often responsible for incidents in the region. The group is considered a terrorist organization by Beijing and is blamed for organizing illegal actions and terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and other regions of the country.