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Gordon Brown pleads for life of mentally ill man facing execution
Peter Dominiczak22 Dec 2009
The Prime Minister today pleaded with China not to execute a mentally ill Londoner charged with drug smuggling.
Gordon Brown has written to President Wen Jiabao to plead for the life of Akmal Shaikh, who has been convicted of smuggling heroin in north-west China and faces death by firing squad.
Human rights charity Reprieve says the Chinese authorities have failed to take into account the mental health of the 53-year-old father of three, who suffers from bipolar disorder.
Mr Shaikh, a former cab firm manager from Kentish Town, was arrested in September 2007 and later convicted of smuggling 4kg (8.8lb) of the drug in Urumqi.
The People's Supreme Court of China yesterday turned down Mr Shaikh's appeal and set his execution for 29 December.
Mr Brown's letter was accompanied by a separate missive from Foreign Secretary David Miliband.The Government had previously been reluctant to publicise either memo for fear of stoking a fresh diplomatic row with Beijing after Mr Brown sparked anger among the Chinese when he appeared to blame the country for the failure of the Copenhagen climate-change talks.
But a Downing Street spokesman said today: “The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised Akmal Shaikh's case with China's leaders on many occasions. Yesterday the Prime Minister wrote to express his dismay that Akmal Shaikh's sentence has been upheld by the Supreme People's Court.
“The Prime Minister has appealed to the Chinese government to show clemency.”
Mr Shaikh's brother Akbar said: “We are heartbroken at the news that Akmal's final appeal has been refused. We respectfully beg the Chinese authorities for compassion and to spare my brother's life.
“We know that China has an honourable tradition of extending mercy at important holidays, and we would see it as a great favour if the Chinese authorities were to hear our pleas during this holiday season in the spirit of forgiveness, mercy and compassion.”
Reprieve says it has medical evidence that Mr Shaikh suffered from a delusion that he was going to China to record a hit single. Once there he was duped by a criminal gang into unwittingly carrying drugs for them.
Reader views (9)
The decision to execute Mr. Shaikh by the Chinese Government was a just one. All countries should introduce the death penalty for drug smuggling. The UK Government have become a laughing stock with the rest of the world for it's political correctness and lack of discipline. No wonder terrorists and national service dodgers attempt to come here. The UK Government needs to 'get real' in today's world.
- Brian Quinn, Luton - UK, 29/12/2009 13:22
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Another convenient excuse by the criminal rights brigade
used to condone all sorts of serious crimes. Stephen Fry
has bipolar disorder, but I think he's intelligent enough
not to try a smuggle drugs into China!
This has nothing to do with us - he was in China and it's
up to the Chinese to punish criminals how they see fit. If
only we could have the same sentences here.
Butt out Brown!
- Lb, Bromley, 23/12/2009 02:20
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I only wish that we would do the same in UK. In my opinion drug dealers pedal death so why should they not be executed.
- T Zabrana, Paignton Devon, 22/12/2009 22:30
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What, our stupid PM writing a letter to try and prevent the death of ONE convicted person while OUR innocent pensioners are dying every day because of the cold/high heating costs etc, our soldiers are dying in places where they should not be, AND WHAT DOES THIS PRIZE BUFFOON DO ABOUT THAT THEN!!!???
This LIEbore party is SICK SICK SICK!
- Ralph, London, 22/12/2009 15:07
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John Campbell, Wick UK - Alcohol should be included too, as this is the most dangerous drug on the planet. It harms people, society & innocents & costs the NHS billions a year in treating these drunks. That is just the UK's bill. Imagine the global cost. You'd execute the suppliers of alcohol too?
You say execute all habitual users. Why? Just because someone says drugs are bad (usually ill-informed politicians). It is entirley the choice of the individual of what substances they consume. If they are not harming anyone, robbing anyone or causing violence and work for a living, what is the problem?
- Drugs Are Bad (Or So We Are Told!), London, 22/12/2009 13:15
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Bipolar disorder is a mental illness but based on moods rather than intelligence and nothing to do with delusions. In other words this man had all his faculties when he took the decision to carry drugs.
- Brian Jones, Bristol UK, 22/12/2009 12:39
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All drug dealers (dealing in more than a small amount)should be executed. The only other solution is to execute all habitual users. Every person who takes a single illegal drug should be required to register. Failure to register or failure to undertake treatment should result in imprisonment. Any prisoner or prison worker found in possession of or under the influence of drugs should be executed. This may seem drastic but remember that large numbers are already dying from drugs, both as a result of the drugs and gang warfare. I seems that the only group that cannot deal in death is the people(through government). The success of the policy should be measured by a graph showing TOTAL DRUGS DEATHS over time. TOTAL DRUGS DEATHS equals: Deaths due to use + Deaths due execution + Deaths due to drug related warfare. We live in a society where there is contempt for human life. The only exception is The State, that must in our irreligious society treat the lowest forms of human life with the reverence due to a precious vessel that contains an immortal soul.
- John Campbell, Wick UK, 22/12/2009 12:33
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Funny how everytime a criminal is convicted these people come out with a mental illness verdict. This is how criminals in the UK have got away with and end up committing more serious crimes like murder.
- Bobby How, Slough, 22/12/2009 11:59
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No sympathy fro drug smugglers like this, and how China runs it's legal system is nothing to do with us.
EDITED by admin @ 11.06 on December 22 2009
Do not post comments which are likely to incite religious or racial intolerance of any sort.
- P Staker, London, W8, 22/12/2009 10:47
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