A Chinese court on Monday (Oct. 12) sentenced six men to death and one to life imprisonment—for their involvement in the July 5th riots in Xinjiang.

They were convicted of crimes that include murder and arson, according to the Chinese language state-run Xinhua News Agency. The seven men’s names suggest that they are of the Uighur ethnic group.

The verdicts could be meant to appease the Han Chinese in Urumqi that has been pressuring the local communist authorities to bring those responsible for the riots to trial.

Uighur supporters say the verdicts are flawed and will fan ethnic hatred in the region.