Mentally ill Briton executed in China
29 December 2009, 09:33PM
British man Akmal Shaikh has been executed in China, despite arguments from his family and lawyer that he suffered for many years from mental instability, with a bipolar disorder.
His execution highlights the injustice and inhumanity of the death penalty, particularly as it is implemented in China. Much information about the death penalty is considered a state secret, but Mr Shaikh's treatment seems consistent with what we know from other cases: a short, almost perfunctory trial, where not all the evidence was presented and investigated, and the death penalty applied to a number of nonviolent crimes.
Mr Shaikh was detained in Urumqi in 2007, accused of carrying four kilograms of heroin in his luggage. His supporters said he was tricked by a criminal gang into carrying the piece of luggage.
Under international human rights law, as well Chinese law, a defendant's mental health can and should be taken into account, and it doesn't seem that in this case the Chinese authorities did so.
It's simply not enough for the Chinese authorities to say 'we did the right thing, trust us'. Now, there can be no re-assesment of evidence, no reprieve after a man's life has been taken.
Amnesty International will continue to campaign for an end to the death penalty and for China to bring transparency and respect for human rights into its judicial system. The UK, the EU, and the rest of the world should continue to press the Chinese Government to increase the transparency surrounding the death penalty in China and to improve the due process offered all defendants, particularly those facing charges punishable by death.
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samuel
5 January 2010, 01:58AM
China executed chinese Han, uigher and tibetan ethnic-Nationalist murderers a couple of weeks ago too.
Consult the anti-psychiatry movement about this incident. they would be supportive of the china’s actions i beleive, because of the equal treatment.
The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. 4 kilos of heroine is heaps i admit, and I can understand why such cruel and unjust punishments exist to prevent human death and misery.
Briton should’ve voiced their concerns more louder. Perhaps because he was non-anglo that he didn’t draw much attention. Similar to the vietnamese-australian guy who got executed without much support from the Howard government. Could it be that the governments are lazy and racist?
Also i am afraid, this one incident i beleive will have almost no impact on the relations of Briton and China. Their economic relations are too strong i beleive. China is truly an unquestionable power now, lets hope they dont start invading countries like what the americans did.
LEIGH O'BRIEN
30 December 2009, 06:23PM
Hopefully our pm, kevin rudd will have stern words with the chinese authorities over this violation of a human life. If only we could go back to the days when we did not rely on china for our goods-maybe then the world at large would be more vocal and mean it! very disappointed- China!
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