Nine people in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have received prison sentences for promoting ethnic hatred and discrimination on the Internet, and committing crimes under the influence of religious extremism, media reported on Thursday.

Ahetam Heli was sentenced to six years imprisonment by a court in southern Xinjiang's Aksu prefecture for instigating ethnic hatred and discrimination.

He had been frequently downloading and uploading videos and books promoting religious extremism and promoting holy war on the Internet in November 2011, Beijing-based Legal Daily reported.

In southern Xinjiang's Kashgar prefecture, eight others including Memetimin Turson were given sentences ranging from two to five years for breaking into villagers' homes and destroying 17 TVs in February. Authorities later found out that the group was under the influence of religious extremism.

In addition, one person was given five days administrative detention for making up and spreading rumors about a suicide bomber being subdued in Urumqi, the region's capital.