Canadian faces imminent execution in China: Amnesty International

A Canadian being held in China on charges of terrorism is slated to be executed on or before Aug. 10, an international human rights organization said Wednesday.

Amnesty International cites unconfirmed reports that Chinese officials have immediate plansto execute Huseyin Celil, 37, of Burlington, Ont.

Chinese officials, however, continue to deny these charges, saying that Celil's trial is still ongoing.

Celil,aUighur Muslim, was arrested in March 2006 on charges of separatist and terrorist activities. Celil was visiting family in Uzbekistan when he was taken into custody and then extradited to China.

On Aug. 5, Canadian officials said they received assurances that China was not seeking the death penalty for Celil.

In the mid-1990s, Celil was arrested in China on charges of establishing a political party, his wife Kamila Talendibaeva said. Chinese officials also allege Celil helped assassinate a political leader in Kyrgyzstan. Celil's family and lawyer deny the accusation.

Celil escaped prison and was granted refugee status in Turkey in 2001. He then came to Canada, where he became a citizen.

Meanwhile, a court in China sentenced him to death in absentia for his alleged anti-government activities.