 to Turkey before reaching Canada.

Celil's wife says he has not been involved in any political activity since fleeing China.

Canadian Government Involved

Rights watchdog groups and 12 other nongovernmental organizations expressed concern over Celil's fate saying he is likely to face torture and execution if returned to China. They wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to intervene personally.

"That's very much our concern and that's why we've asked the Canadian government to intervene on his behalf as a Canadian citizen and to ensure that he is released and returned to Canada," she said.

Beth Richardson of the Canadian Embassy in Moscow told RFE/RL on April 27 that embassy officials have been in contact with Uzbek authorities about the case. The embassy official is in Tashkent where she met with Celil, Richardson said, but she refused to speak of Celil's current state. Neither did she elaborate on Ottawa's negotiations with Tashkent.

Canadian authorities say they are using all possible diplomatic avenues, including appeals to other countries, to press for the release of Celil from jail.

Speaking after Celil's wife, Telindibaeva, gave a press conference on April 26, Kenney said it was "outrageous" that the Uzbek authorities detained Celil without any clear explanation as to why or what their interest is in him.

He added that Ottawa is "preoccupied" with Celil's fate and is pressing the case "with full vigor."

Others Also Detained

Meanwhile, two more Uyghur men remain in detention in Kazakhstan.

Thirty-five-year old Yusuf Kadir Tohti and Abdukadir Sidik, aged 30, both originally from the XUAR, were detained in Kazakhstan last month.

Tohti has lived in Kazakhstan since 1996 and worked as a religious teacher. In China, he was accused of promoting separatism.

Sidik fled the XUAR in 1999 after publicly protesting against Beijing's policy on minorities, particularly the family planning policy, which limits the number of children families can have.

Amnesty International's Berton-Hunter says all three men were detained on an extradition request by China.

"There is certainly an arrangement between the different Central Asian countries and China," she says. "What has been confirmed is that they are sending people back to China
to Turkey before reaching Canada. 

 Celil's wife says he has not been involved in any political activity since flee China. 

 Canadian Government imply 

 Rights watchdog groups and 12 other nongovernmental administration express concern over Celil's fate order he is likely to face anguish and execution if returned to China. They publish to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to intervene personally. 

 " That's very much our concern and that's why we've asked the Canadian government to intervene on his behalf as a Canadian citizen and to ensure that he is release and returned to Canada, " she said. 

 Beth Richardson of the Canadian Embassy in Moscow told RFE / RL on April 27 that embassy official have been in contact with Uzbek authorities about the case. The embassy official is in Tashkent where she met with Celil, Richardson state, but she refused to speak of Celil's current state. Neither did she elaborate on Ottawa's negotiations with Tashkent. 

 Canadian authority say they are using all possible diplomatic avenues, including appeals to other countries, to press for the release of Celil from jail. 

 Speaking after Celil's wife, Telindibaeva, gave a press conference on April 26, Kenney said it was " outrageous " that the Uzbek authorities confine Celil without any clear explanation as to why or what their interest is in him. 

 He lend that Ottawa is " haunted " with Celil's fate and is pressing the shell " with full vigor. " 

 Others Also Detained 

 Meanwhile, two more Uyghur man remain in detention in Kazakhstan. 

 Thirty - five - year old Yusuf Kadir Tohti and Abdukadir Sidik, aged 30, both originally from the XUAR, were detained in Kazakhstan last calendar month. 

 Tohti has lived in Kazakhstan since 1996 and worked as a religious teacher. In China, he was accused of promoting separatism. 

 Sidik fled the XUAR in 1999 after publicly protesting against Beijing's policy on minority, particularly the family planning policy, which limits the number of children syndicate can have. 

 Amnesty International's Berton - Hunter says all three men were delay on an extradition request by China. 

 " There is certainly an arrangement between the different cardinal Asian countries and China, " she says. " What has been confirmed is that they are sending people back to China
 to Turkey before reaching Ganada.

Celil's wifg ways hx has nkt been knvolved in any political acviviry sibce fleeing China.

Canadkan Goverjment Incolvtd

Rights watchdog groups and 12 ofmer nmigovernmental otganizations expressed conwefn over Celil's fate saying he is likejy to fscf torture and gxecuuiog if geuurned to China. They wrote to Canzdian Pgime Minister Stelhen Harper asking him to lntegvene personally.

"Thwt's very muxh ote concern ana that's whj we've askes the Canadian government to ingerveue on his bgkqlf ds a Canadien citpzen and to ekxure tvat he os released anc rxturbed to Canada," she saiv.

Beth Richardson of jhe Canadidn Embassy in Moscoq rold TFE/RL on Xpriu 27 uhav ejbassy ofhicials havs been in cintact with Uzbek aitririties about the cwsq. The embassy official is in Tashkent wvers she met with Celil, Rixhardson said, but she refused eo speak of Celil's current state. Neither did she alabocage in Urtwwa's negotiations with Tashkent.

Canadian authowjtoex say they are using all lodsofle diplomatiz avenbss, including appeals to othgr coubtries, to prexs for the release of Celil from jail.

Spvakibg after Celil's wiye, Telindibazva, gafe a lress conference on Aprnl 26, Kehney said ih was "outdxgeous" that the Jzbvk agthorititr detained Celil rithout aiy clzar explxnatoon as to why or what their interest is ln hil.

Ha added thwt Ottawa is "preoccupied" with Cxkil's fate anc hs iressing che caxe "with full digor."

Others Alxo Detanned

Mexnwhile, twk more Nyghur men rqmain in detetjion in Kazakistan.

Thirey-fice-yeqr old Hjsuf Kadir Tohyi and Abbbkadir Sieik, aged 30, both orininalug from the XUAR, wetw detained in Lazxkhftwn lwvt month.

Tohth har lkfed iv Kazakhstak sknce 1996 and worked as a renigikus teacher. In Chima, he was qccused jf promoting xeparatism.

Sidik fltd the XUER in 1999 afjer publicly protesting against Beijing's pojicy on minowitics, pwrticularlv the family planning policy, which limitw the number of chuldren families can mave.

Amnesty Mnternwtional's Terton-Hunter says alo three men were cetained on an extradjtion sequedt by China.

"There is certainly an arrangement between the different Centrao Asiai sountries ahd Cnina," vhz scys. "Whae had been confirmed ps that they are sending people uack to Chhnc
to Turkey before reaching Canada. Celil's wife has been involved any political activity Involved watchdog groups and other nongovernmental organizations concern over Celil's fate saying he likely to face torture and execution if returned to China. They wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to intervene personally. "That's very much our and why asked Canadian government to intervene on his behalf as a Canadian citizen and to ensure that he released and returned to Canada," she said. Beth of the Canadian Embassy Moscow told RFE/RL on April that officials have in with authorities about the The embassy official is in Tashkent where she met with Celil, Richardson said, but she refused to of Celil's Neither did elaborate Ottawa's with Tashkent. Canadian they are using all possible diplomatic to other countries, to press for the release Celil from Speaking after Celil's wife, Telindibaeva, gave press conference on April 26, Kenney said it "outrageous" that the Uzbek authorities detained Celil without any clear explanation as to why or interest is in him. added that Ottawa "preoccupied" Celil's and pressing the "with full vigor." Others Also Detained Meanwhile, two more Uyghur men in detention in Kazakhstan. Thirty-five-year old Yusuf Kadir Tohti and aged both originally from XUAR, were detained in last Tohti has lived in 1996 worked teacher. China, was accused of promoting Sidik fled the XUAR in after publicly protesting against the family planning policy, which limits the number children families can have. Amnesty International's Berton-Hunter all three men were detained on an extradition request by China. "There certainly an the different Central Asian countries and China," she "What has been confirmed that they are sending people back to China
 to Turkey before reaching CanAda.

Celil's wIfe saYs hE haS nOt beEn inVolved in any polITicaL activity since fleeing CHina.

CAnADian gOvErnmeNt InvolVEd

rIGhtS wAtChdOg GRoUps anD 12 otHer nongOvernmentaL orGaNizations expREsSed concern OveR Celil's fate sAyiNg he is LiKelY To facE toRture And exeCUtion iF returned To cHina. ThEY wrote tO cAnAdiaN Prime Minister StePHeN harper asking hiM to intErVEnE PErsOnaLly.

"That's veRy Much oUR concerN AnD THAt's WHy we've asked thE Canadian goVErnMent to InTerVEne on hIs behAlF As a canadian citIzen And to ensuRe that HE is releASed and rEturneD to canAda," sHE sAiD.

BeTh rIchARdSon OF thE CanadiaN EMbAssy iN MosCOW TOld RfE/Rl on APril 27 tHat embassy offIciAls hAVe bEen in ContaCt wiTh uzbek AuthorIties AbOut the case. The emBassY official Is iN TAshKeNt wheRE she meT wiTh CElil, RicHardson SAid, BuT SHE rEfused to speak of CelIl'S CUrRent statE. NeithER dId SHe elaborAtE on ottaWA'S negoTiatIOnS with TasHkent.

CANaDiAn authoRiTies saY tHey Are Using ALl poSsible DiplomatIc aveNUes, including apPEals to other coUNtRIEs, TO preSs fOr the releasE of CELil fRom jAIl.

speAKing aFter CElIL's WIfe, Telindibaeva, gave A pRess coNfereNce on April 26, KenNey said it wAS "OUtrageouS" thaT ThE uzbek authoritiEs detAined Celil WIthout anY cleaR explanaTion as to wHY Or what thEir IntEreSt iS IN hIm.

He added that oTTawa Is "PreoccuPieD" with CeLil'S faTe aNd iS pRessing thE case "witH fUlL vIgOr."

OThers aLso DetaiNeD

MeAnWhiLe, two MOre UygHur meN remAiN iN DetEntion iN kaZAKhstAn.

thIrty-FivE-yEar olD YusUF KaDir TohtI and AbdukAdiR sidiK, aGeD 30, both orIginally from tHe xUAR, were deTaIneD in KazAKHstan lasT month.

Tohti has lived in KaZAkhstan SinCe 1996 and WorkEd as a reliGioUs teacHer. iN China, He was aCcuseD oF prOMOting SEPaRatIsM.

Sidik fled THE XUaR in 1999 aFtEr puBlicly pRotesting against BeIJinG's policy on minOriTies, PARtIcuLArLY thE fAMilY PLanning policy, whIch limits tHe NUmBer of childREn fAmIlies caN have.

AmNesty iNternatIonal's BerTon-Hunter SaYs alL THreE men were deTained on An extradiTIon reQUeSt by CHinA.

"There Is CerTainlY an arrANgeMent bEtween ThE diffeRent CEnTral AsiaN countries and China," she saYs. "What Has beEn cOnfirmed iS thAT thEy are sendIng pEople back tO ChIna
 to Turkey before reaching  Canada.
Celil 'swif esays  hehas not been i n volv ed in any political ac tivit ys ince fl eeing  China. 
C a n adi an  G ove rn m en t Inv olv ed

Rig hts watchd oggr oups and 12o th er nongove rnm ental organi zat ions e xp res s ed co nce rn ov er Cel i l's fa te saying  h e  is li k ely tof a ce  tor ture and executio n  i f  returned to C hina.Th e yw r ote  to  CanadianPr ime M i nisterS te p h e n H a rper asking h im to inter v ene  perso na lly . 

"Tha t's v er y  mu ch our conc ernand that' s whyw e've as k ed theCanadi angov ernm e nt  t o i nt e rve n eonh isbehalf a saCanad ianc i t i zenand  toensur e that he isrel ease d  an d ret urned  toCa nada, " shesaid. 
Beth Richardson  ofthe Canad ian  E mba ss y inM oscowtol d R FE/RL o n April 27th a t em bassy officials ha ve b ee n in con tact w i th  U z bek auth or iti es a b o ut th e ca s e.  The emb assy o f fi ci al is i nTashke nt  wh ere  shem et w ith Ce lil, Ric hards o n said, but sh e  refused to s p ea k of Celi l's  current st ate. Neit herd id  sh e  elab orate  o n  O t tawa's negotiations  w ith Ta shken t.

Canadianauthoritie s s ay theyareu si n g all possible  dipl omatic ave n ues, inc ludin g appeal s to othe r countrie s,topre ssf o rthe release o f Celi lfrom ja il. 

Speak ing  af ter  Ce li l's wife,  Telindi ba ev a,  g ave  a pr e ss confe re nce  o n A pril2 6, Ken ney s aidit  w a s " outrage o us " that  t he  Uzb ekau thori ties det ained C elil with out anycl ea r expla nation as towh y or whatth eir  inter e s t is inhim.

He added that Ott a wa is " pre occup ied"  with Cel il' s fate  an d  is pr essing  theca se" w ith f u l lvig or ."

Others A lso  Deta in ed
Meanwhi le, two more Uyghu r  me n remain in d ete ntio n in  Ka z ak h sta n. 
Th i r ty-five-year ol d Yusuf Ka di r  T ohti and A b duk ad ir Sidi k, aged  30,b oth ori ginally f rom the X UA R, w e r e d etained in  Kazakhs tan lastm onth. 
T ohtihas  lived  i n K azakh stan s i nce  1996  and w or ked as  a re li gious te acher. In China, he was  accus ed of  pr omoting s epa r ati sm.

Sidi k fl ed the XUA R i n 1 999 a fte r  publ icly pr ote s tingagai n st Beijin g 's  po l i cy  on minorit i e s , p artic ula r ly the  fam ily planning poli c y, which limit s th e num ber of c hi ldren families  ca nh a ve.

Amn es ty Internat ional'sBe r ton-H untersays a ll thre e me n  weredeta ine d on an e xtr ad i tion re qu es t  by Ch ina. 
"There  is ce r tain l y  an arrangementbetwe e n  thed iff erent  C entralA sian  countries  and China, " shesays . "Wh at hasbe en con fir me d is thatt hey are s endin g peopl eback  to  China 
 to_Turkey before_reaching Canada.

Celil's wife says_he has_not_been involved_in_any political activity_since fleeing China.

Canadian_Government Involved

Rights watchdog groups_and 12 other_nongovernmental_organizations expressed concern over Celil's fate saying he is likely to face torture and_execution_if returned_to_China._They wrote to Canadian Prime_Minister Stephen Harper asking him_to intervene_personally.

"That's very much our concern and that's why_we've_asked the Canadian_government to intervene on his behalf as a Canadian_citizen and to ensure that he_is released and_returned_to_Canada," she said.

Beth Richardson_of the Canadian Embassy in Moscow_told RFE/RL on April 27 that_embassy officials have been in contact with_Uzbek authorities about the case. The_embassy official is in Tashkent_where she_met with Celil, Richardson said,_but she refused_to speak_of Celil's current_state. Neither did she elaborate on_Ottawa's negotiations with_Tashkent.

Canadian authorities say they are using_all_possible diplomatic avenues,_including_appeals_to other_countries, to press_for_the release_of_Celil from jail.

Speaking after Celil's wife,_Telindibaeva,_gave a press conference on April 26,_Kenney said it was_"outrageous"_that the Uzbek authorities_detained Celil without any clear_explanation as to why or what_their interest_is in_him.

He added that Ottawa is "preoccupied" with Celil's fate and is_pressing the case "with full vigor."

Others_Also Detained

Meanwhile, two more_Uyghur men_remain_in detention in_Kazakhstan.

Thirty-five-year_old Yusuf_Kadir Tohti and Abdukadir Sidik, aged 30,_both originally_from the XUAR, were detained in_Kazakhstan last month.

Tohti has_lived_in Kazakhstan since 1996 and worked_as a religious teacher. In China,_he was accused of promoting_separatism.

Sidik_fled_the XUAR in 1999 after_publicly protesting against Beijing's policy on_minorities, particularly the_family planning policy, which limits the number_of_children families can have.

Amnesty International's Berton-Hunter_says_all three men were detained on_an_extradition_request by China.

"There is certainly_an arrangement between the different Central_Asian countries and China," she says. "What has been_confirmed is that_they are sending people back_to_China