In that barbaric violence that ravaged Urumqi, two Uygur workers sheltered 22 Han compatriots at their hostel from the ferocious mobs on the night of July 5.

"We would risk our lives to save our Han brothers under those circumstances," one of them said.

A 38-year-old Uygur man and 30 of his neighbors, all Uygur, saved 40 Han people who were being chased by weapon-wielding rioters but had nowhere to hide. Their courtyards became a safe haven for the Han victims. Every fleeing Han was ushered in, and the mob in hot pursuit shut out.