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Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced calls today to intervene personally in the case of a mentally ill Briton on death row in China on drugs charges.
Akmal Shaikh, from Kentish Town, north London, was convicted of smuggling 4kg (8.8lb) of heroin and faces death by firing squad.
But supporters say the father-of-three suffers
from bipolar disorder and should be freed.
Mr Shaikh, a former cab firm manager, was arrested in September 2007 in Urumqi, north west China, and sentenced to death last November.
Today his appeal will be heard by the district court in the region. If it fails, he has one last chance at the People's Supreme Court before the sentence is carried out.
His lawyers say they have been prevented from accessing him in prison to carry out a mental health assessment.
But a preliminary report compiled by Dr Peter Schaapveld, a consultant clinical and forensic psychologist, said it was very likely that the 53-year-old's behaviour was "influenced or caused by" his mental illness.
Clive Stafford Smith, from campaign group Reprieve, which is representing Mr Shaikh, called for "urgent and immediate" action from the Government.
He said: "Akmal Shaikh faces the possibility of a hollow-point bullet to the back of the head sometime very soon, unless Gordon Brown makes strong representations to President Hu."
"And at a bare minimum, the Prime Minister can surely ensure that we get a mental health expert in to see Mr Shaikh, so we can prove the seriousness of Mr Shaikh's illness to the Chinese courts."
A Foreign Office spokesman said the Government strongly opposed the death penalty and had a policy of making representations in all cases affecting Britons.
He said: "Her Majesty's Government has already made representations to the Chinese authorities. Representations continue in both China and London.
"Consular officials in China have visited our national since the pronouncement of the sentence, and most recently on May 25.
"Consular officials are working with Reprieve and others to ensure that Mr Shaikh has appropriate legal representation."
Reader views (5)
It's nothing to do with depression. Bipolar people also sometimes suffer from Mania, and that is when their behaviour is more likely to be bizarre. I know what i'm talking about because I suffer from it.
The comments here are typical of people who don't care about people with mental illness.
He is at least entitled to a fair trial with any mitigating factors taken into consideration.
The chinese have a very poor record on human rights issues such as these.
Before anyone accuses me of it, I do not condone drug smuggling !
- Brian, Hertfordshire, UK
What is a mentally ill person doing in China in the first place? I for one don't buy it, dealing in drugs is usually motivated by money not 'cause you're feeling depressed.
- William, Hammersmith/Malta
yep, he should have done it in Saudi, or Iran or Pakistan, they'd have been more sympathetic.
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
What did he think he was carrying at the time he was arrested?
- Kc, London
"... was convicted of smuggling 4kg (8.8lb) of heroin and faces death by firing squad."
So be it.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
