China tries Canadian on terrorism charges

A Canadian being held in China has gone on trial on terrorism charges, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Huseyin Celil is accused of being involved in East Turkestan terrorist activities, according to the ministry. A spokesperson added they consider Celil a Chinese citizen and that no verdict had yet been reached in the case.

The confirmation came hours after advocates for Celil held a news conference in Toronto urging federal officials to intervene in on his behalf.

Gloria Nafzinger of Amnesty International Canadacalled onPrime Minister Stephen Harper to help with Celil's case. The human rights group says Celil will be executed if found guilty.

"We believe that in order to prevent Mr. Celil's execution and to ensure a fair judicial process, it's essential that the Canadian government to be involved at the highest level," Nafzinger said.

Jason Kenney, Harper's parliamentary secretary, said negotiations with China continue at a high level and that Canada has not given up on Celil.

"We insist that he has the full protection of Canadian citizenship and consular, and that includes co-operation of Canadian officials in the proceedings he is facing," Kenney said.

In 1994, Celil was arrested in China on charges of establishing a political party for the country's minority Muslim Uyghurs. Chinese officials also allege he helped assassinate a political leader in Kyrgyzstan, an accusation Celil's family and lawyerhave denied.

Celil escaped prison and fled China for Uzbekistan in the mid-1990s. He came as a refugee to Canada in 2001 from Turkey and became a Canadian citizen.

The Burlington, Ont., resident was arrested in March while trying to renew his visitor's visa in Uzbekistan.

Jennie Chen, a Canadian Embassy spokeswoman, told the Associated Press on Thursday that Chinese officials had given assurances they would not seek the death penalty for Celil, but his supporters have expressed skepticism over that claim.

Celil's wife, Kamila Talendibaeva told CBC so far Canadian diplomatic efforts have done little help her husband.

"They have to do more," she said."Theyneed to put more pressure on."

Celil has six children — three in Ontario and three who live in China. Friends have claimed he was in Uzbekistan in March to try to get his three children out of China.