Xinjiang

Demonstrations--primarily by Han Chinese--took place in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), in early September, following almost two months after a demonstration by Uyghurs on July 5 and outbreaks of violence in the city starting that day. During the September demonstrations, participants protested the government response following events on July 5 and after reports that primarily Han residents of Urumqi alleged that persons they believed to be Uyghurs had randomly attacked them with syringes. Following gatherings on September 2, according to Xinhua, the demonstrations swelled on September 3, and additional demonstrations and gatherings continued into the following days.

Following the forceful police suppression of a demonstration by Uyghurs on July 5 and outbreaks of violence starting that day in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) capital of Urumqi, authorities in Xinjiang and Beijing have taken steps to restrict lawyers' activities defending people accused of committing crimes on July 5. The steps precede an announcement in late July that the XUAR Justice Department will select and train lawyers to provide criminal defense to suspects alleged to have links to crimes committed on July 5 when they go to trial. Chinese media reports on the nature of the legal defense are inconsistent, however, and a number of details remain unknown. The announcement comes as authorities continue to report on detentions, arrests, and preparations for trials in connection to events on July 5.

Following the forceful police suppression of a demonstration by Uyghurs on July 5 in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), and outbreaks of violence starting that day, Chinese media continue to carry reports from XUAR officials on detentions and arrests in connection to events on July 5, as well as a first batch of cases to be prosecuted. Official Chinese media's English-language and Chinese-language services have differed in some cases in their coverage of the detentions and arrests, and some details about the detentions and arrests, including the total number of people in custody, remain unclear. Reports have used varying terms to describe the detentions.

In recent months, two local governments in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) published reports on the government and Communist Party-led political training of Muslim women religious figures known as büwi. (Büwi is a Uyghur word transliterated in the Chinese-language reports cited here as buwei.

Authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have continued to enforce tight security measures in the region following a demonstration by Uyghurs on July 5 and violent clashes in the XUAR capital of Urumchi (Urumqi). The measures are a stated effort by the government to safeguard stability and "strike hard" against people who officials say incited unrest. The Chinese government has provided limited updates on developments in the region and has permitted limited access by foreign media; however, the government also has continued to enforce controls over the free flow of information on events. Violence also was reported after July 5, including when Han Chinese carrying weapons took to the streets of Urumchi.

Uyghurs in the city of Urumchi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), gathered on July 5, 2009, to protest authorities' handling of a reported attack on Uyghur factory workers by Han factory workers in late June in Guangdong province, and to protest government policy toward Uyghurs. Reports indicate the demonstration began as a peaceful protest and later turned violent as protesters clashed with police, who used tear gas and stun batons against the protesters, and later were reported to fire on the crowds. Official Chinese media sources described the demonstration as a riot orchestrated by U.S.-based Uyghur rights activist Rebiya Kadeer, and reported that the incident left at least 156 people dead and over 1000 people injured. Demonstrations also are reported to have occurred in other cities in the XUAR, and demonstrations and outbreaks of violence were reported again in Urumchi on July 7.