Chinese court sentences 2 men to death for killing pro-government imam at Id Kah mosque

BEIJING – Chinese state media say two men were sentenced to death and another to life imprisonment for killing a pro-government Muslim cleric in the far western city of Kashgar.

The government-run news portal Tianshan Net said the court in Kashgar on Sunday found Gheni Hasan and Nurmemet Abidilimit guilty of organizing and leading a terrorist group as well as intentional homicide, and sentenced them to death.

Tianshan says the third man, Atawulla Tursun, participated in the terror group.

Chinese media say Nurmemet Abidilimit and two other men killed imam Jume Tahir, 74, after dawn prayers at a major mosque on July 30, amid a string of violence by members of the Uighur minority against government institutions and supporters.

Nurmemet Abidilimit was arrested, and the other two were shot dead by police.