Director General, XUAR Department of Justice
USOUR Abuliz Tingzhang
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Sifating
27 Renminlu
Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
Volksrepublik  CHINA
Fax:   0086 - 991 - 23 11 590



Dear Director General,


Reportedly,

      Mr Hairat Niyaz,

a journalist from China's ethnic Uighur community, was tried, convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on 23 July 2010 by a court in Urumqi. During the trial, he insisted that he had broken no laws and was only carrying out his duty as a citizen and journalist. He continues to be held incommunicado and has been denied access to legal counsel of his choice. Mr Hairat Niyaz was last known to be held in Tianshan detention centre in Urumqi.

I urge you and your authorities to release Mr Hairat Niyaz immediately and unconditionally, as he is obviously a prisoner of conscience, detained solely because of his peacefully expressed views.

Furthermore I call for guarantees that Mr Hairat Niyaz will not be tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Finally I want to point out that in all cilvilized states of the world it goes without saying, that all prisoners are given immediate access to legal counsel of their choice, their family and any medical attention they may require.


Respectfully,