China executes Brit who might have been mentally ill

Just a followup from yesterday's story: China has executed Akmal Shaikh, a British man who was convicted of smuggling heroin into the country. This is the first time in 50 years that China has executed a European citizen. The British government made a strong effort to save Shaikh's life, arguing that he had a form of mental illness. (He allegedly got suckered into the drug-smuggling scam because he wanted to be an international star with his world-peace song, "Come Little Rabbit." He was living on the streets at the time.)

The Chinese say there wasn't enough evidence of mental illness.

(Shaikh) was convicted in 2008 after a half-hour trial. In one court appearance during his trial and appeal process, the judges reportedly laughed at his rambling remarks.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, cripjak!

This undated handout photo issued by Reprieve on Monday Dec. 28, 2009 shows Akmal Shaikh. China brushed aside international appeals Tuesday, dEC. 29, 2009 and executed Akmal Shaikh by lethal injection. Akmal Shaikh was a British drug smuggler who relatives say was mentally unstable and unwittingly lured into crime. (AP Photo/Luis Belmonte Diaz/Reprieve, File)

Comments

[Patman]

Shaikh.

Now there's a good, noble, British name!

I can hear it now, Duke of Shaikh.

[Searching]

According to this article from 2005, the Chinese use Death Vans to carry out the sentences
I wonder if they still use these?

[KC Cicero]

Barbarians.

Of course, Mao never dreamed that by the simple expedient of using the power of a police state to keep cheap labor in line, they would one day simply own us. Basically, we must kowtow to the Red Emperors, lest they stop buying our paper. And the human rights of the Chinese (and any inconvenient foreigners) must take second place to Walmart's insatiable appetite for cheap stuff.

[Searching]

America sold itself to the lowest bidder, what you talking about?

[Jane]

We execute the mental ill. Why is it wrong when China does it?

[Rosemary]

Jane is spot on. Look no further than the mirror, and not to China, for the things we can fix at home.

[bobbo]

Rosemary and Jane, when you say "we" you mean the UK executes the mental ill, right?