Row After China Executes Briton
Despite last-minute pleas for clemency on Tuesday, China executed a Briton who was said to have serious mental health issues. Akmal Shaikh, a 53-year-old with three children, was executed for drug smuggling. This has now drawn furious criticism from rights groups, London and the European Union, as well as many other countries around the world.
China confirmed that they went through with the execution and have even defended their use of capital punishment, saying that there was insufficient evidence of Shaikh’s mental illness. They also said that they hope London won’t create new obstacles among diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The British citizen is the first European in 50 years to be executed in China, according to the charity Reprieve, which is based in London and provided Shaikh with legal counsel. The charity said that China ignored unrebutted and overwhelming evidence of the illness.
The Swedish presidency of the EU issued a statement, saying that they condemn the execution in the strongest terms. They deeply regret that China didn’t heed repeated calls from the EU and a member state for the death sentence to be commuted.
An 11th-hour appeal for clemency was launched by London, urging China to halt the execution. However, Shaikh was given a lethal injection on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the execution and said he is disappointed and appalled by it after they repeated requested clemency. He added that he is particularly concerned with the fact that they didn’t even do a mental health assessment.
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