Akmal Shaikh, a Muslim based in Britain, and a British subject was executed in China yesterday by lethal injection, despite pleas from his family in Britain, and a personal plea from Prime Minister Gordon Brown for clemency.

He was arrested back in 2007, on drug trafficking charges. He was also believed to have mental health issues, and was bipolar. He often had periods whereby he didn't know what was happening around him.

The Chinese authorities were also asked to defer the execution, so his mental health could be properly assessed. Despite all this, the execution went ahead yesterday. I've been following this case of recent, and I truly believed Akmal's life would have been spared. He was a father of three here in Britain. His execution marks the first EU national to be executed in China for over 50 years.

I think the Chinese acted without any shred of human understanding or kindness. How can a mentally ill person be responsible for drug trafficking? This man was clearly used, and of course, the real Drug Barons have once again walked free.

May God grant his family the fortitude to bear this loss.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8433285.stm

The Chinese are blood thirsty scums.

Yes, it's a shame.

It doesn't do well for diplomatic relations either, and I'm not just talking about Britain. Most countries with the death penalty for drug sellers, tend to commute the penalty to life, or very lengthy jail terms for foreigners. This guy's case was unique, in that he didn't seem very lucid.

I've seen him in interviews, and he just looked bewildered, like he wasn't aware of what was happening around him. God rest his soul.

@Siena,

Are you playing double standard or what? Is that not Chinese law? You supported the British Legal system on Onwubiko's case but you want the Chinese to change their law cus the offender is a british. He is a drug peddler and the Chinese punished him according to their law just like British punished Onwubiko according to theirs which you are in full support.

Forget about the diplomatic crap, China is not Africa that they push around.

presido1:

@Siena,

Are you playing double standard or what? Is that not Chinese law? You supported the British Legal system on Onwubiko's case but you want the Chinese to change their law cus the offender is a british. He is a drug peddler and the Chinese punished him according to their law just like British punished Onwubiko according to theirs which you are in full support.

Forget about the diplomatic crap, China is not Africa that they push around.

thank u, well said.

May his soul RIP tho.

presido1:

@Siena,

Are you playing double standard or what? Is that not Chinese law? You supported the British Legal system on Onwubiko's case but you want the Chinese to change their law cus the offender is a british. He is a drug peddler and the Chinese punished him according to their law just like British punished Onwubiko according to theirs which you are in full support.

Forget about the diplomatic crap, China is not Africa that they push around.

Onwumbiko's case is completely different - he's not dead, is he?

The executed man in question was clearly not mentally sound, if you've been following the news regarding him, you'd understand. It's not about China changing their laws, it's about China looking into medical records, and granting time for the man to have at least been assessed.

Did you guys listen to the argument of China? Why rush to judgment based on the account of the British alone? There is a law in China which prescribes death penalty for drug pushers. Why must they change their law because a British subject was involved? They never changed it for their own citizens who ran foul of the law. The British will never allow meddlesomeness in their internal affairs from any country but they are doing same thing to China. That is double standard.
BBC reporters tasked the spokesman of the British Foreign office if their stand on this matter was not based on the role China played in the botched Climate conference in Copenhangen which failed to produce the desired result. The spokeman denied it but it is believed that the denouncement and vilification of China on this matter using abuse of human rights as a subterfuge played a role in this matter. Everybody is aware that China is strict when it comes to enforcement of its laws. The man was not of unsound mind when he took 4,030 g of heroine to China but when he was caught, he, his people and Britain were asking for leniency and pleaded the man has mental illness. The Chinese said the heroine he smuggled into their country is capable of destoying the lives of about 26,800 people. Corrupt people are subject to execution in China when caught in the act: that is why the level of corruption is very low in China.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Akmal-Shaikh-Executed-In-China-As-Britons-Death-Sentence-Approved-By-Supreme-Court/Article/200912415509509?lpos=World_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15509509_Akmal_Shaikh_Executed_In_China_As_Britons_Death_Sentence_Approved_By_Supreme_Court

why the uproar - don't america execute thier own killers - does it make news??

pls - if this man had made money from the drugs u think anybody would be calling bipolar or instead they will be feeling cool in their jeep and high life.

its sad but this is not news and the chinese are right to remind the british about the 19th century opiom trade the british did in china - if the man had been caught in the uk they would give him 6 months and 200 hours of community service

Chinese

Siena:

Onwumbiko's case is completely different - he's not dead, is he?

The executed man in question was clearly not mentally sound, if you've been following the news regarding him, you'd understand. It's not about China changing their laws, it's about China looking into medical records, and granting time for the man to have at least been assessed.

You sound funny!!!!! Chinese govt made it clear that the guy is sound. You are taking the British word against the Chinese which is that colonial influence on black race. Is Onwubiko not a polio patient? If its not about changing the their law why then are you and your british hypocrites complaining of Chinese standing on justice system to the fullest.

Once again China is not Africa that they play around like football. If the Chinese can execute their own citizen for drug peddling i don't know why they should spare a british subject.

May he R.I.P

Wait, . . . Why is this in politics section, what concerns Nigeria if British citizen was killed in China for drug-peddling?
As said China even executes its own citizens for less.

Siena:

Onwumbiko's case is completely different - he's not dead, is he?

The executed man in question was clearly not mentally sound, if you've been following the news regarding him, you'd understand. It's not about China changing their laws, it's about China looking into medical records, and granting time for the man to have at least been assessed.

Indeed. A basic respect for international diplomacy and relations means that China , minimally and even if only to humour the UK , must assess the accused man medically after the British Government officially declared that Mr Shaikh suffers from a bipolar disorder that dimishes his judgement. China , with their action, are more or less declaring that they don't believe the word of the British Government enough to even organise a simple medical examination for this man. The World , especially naive and childishly trusting Africa , should be wary of China. They operate to a totally different set of rule. They may be heading for the position of the world's foremost economy but I hope they will match that esteemed position , when they achieve it , with requisite morality and humanity. Learning that China punishes as much as 68 offences with death , when even the Countries who still carry out judicial execution do it mainly for murder , shows that China should be feared for a ruthless backbone that must be considered a serious cause for worry.

From what I read, they found no previous medical records of the guy being mentally ill before committing the crime. It was only after he was caught that they started the whole bipolar disorder defence. Bipolar Disorder doesn't render one unable to discern between right and wrong, or unable to take responsibility for one's actions.

Skidoc:

From what I read, they found no previous medical records of the guy being mentally ill before committing the crime. It was only after he was caught that they started the whole bipolar disorder defence.

This is not two individuals bickering. It is two nations. Instead of he-said-she-said , and to aid continued good international relations , why not humour the UK , and pehaps discredit them , by medically examining Mr. Shaikh?

As for what you say below I can only ask you to read up more on bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder doesn't render one unable to discern between right and wrong, or unable to take responsibility for one's actions.

doing so will reveal to you what is written below in corroboration of why many knowledgeable experts insisted that the Chinese Government should , as a minimum , have conducted medical test to assess the validity of the claim that Mr. Shaikh's behaviour may possibly be related to impaired judgement caused by a medical condition.

http://www.manic-depression.net/

When someone with bipolar disorder has an elevated mood[b] accompanied by impaired judgment [/b] and a decreased need for sleep, they are said to be having a manic episode. Other bipolar disorder symptoms of manic episodes include excessive energy and restlessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, can all be considered as manic depression symptoms. The impaired judgment along with the euphoria experienced during a manic episode often leads to risky behavior, such as promiscuity, excessive spending, and risky gambling.

International diplomacy my a$$. Chinese Govt did what they think that is right for their nation in accordance with their law. They can't compromise the well being of their citizens irrespective of the offender. You can't be flooding their country with hard drugs at the same time claiming to be mentally handicapped. Who knows this might not be his first trip.

Abeem:

Did you guys listen to the argument of China? Why rush to judgment based on the account of the British alone? There is a law in China which prescribes death penalty for drug pushers. Why must they change their law because a British subject was involved? They never changed it for their own citizens who ran foul of the law. The British will never allow meddlesomeness in their internal affairs from any country but they are doing same thing to China. That is double standard.
BBC reporters tasked the spokesman of the British Foreign office if their stand on this matter was not based on the role China played in the botched Climate conference in Copenhangen which failed to produce the desired result. The spokeman denied it but it is believed that the denouncement and vilification of China on this matter using abuse of human rights as a subterfuge played a role in this matter. Everybody is aware that China is strict when it comes to enforcement of its laws. The man was not of unsound mind when he took 4,030 g of heroine to China but when he was caught, he, his people and Britain were asking for leniency and pleaded the man has mental illness. The Chinese said the heroine he smuggled into their country is capable of destoying the lives of about 26,800 people. Corrupt people are subject to execution in China when caught in the act: that is why the level of corruption is very low in China.

It is your prerogative to defend China's action but you should not distort facts while doing so. China is battling endemic corruption. Just google "China and corruption" to see for yourself.

Moved To Foreign Affairs. . .

presido1:

You can't be flooding their country with hard drugs at the same time claiming to be mentally handicapped. Who knows this might not be his first trip.

GBAM!!!

. . . . if you've watched the film Scarface, you would know that Tony Montana was also not right in the head. . . . many drug dealers ave some mental issues, therefore should they all be pardoned?