China defiant after execution of British citizen

[aruna]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/china-defiant-after-britons-execution-1852307.html
China remained defiant today in the face of condemnation from the UK Government and human rights campaigners over the execution of a Briton said by his supporters be suffering from mental illness.
The Chinese embassy in London said Akmal Shaikh, 53, from Kentish Town, north London, had "no previous medical record" of mental illness and that his rights and interests had been properly respected.
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, told a press briefing in Beijing: "No one has the right to comment on China's judicial sovereignty. It is the common wish of people around the world to strike against the crime of drug trafficking.

[regdog]

I'm not commenting on this individual case alone.

Anyone traveling to any foreign country has to be extremely careful. Other countries have their own laws and do things their own way. Americans, Britons, Canadians, Germans, etc. cannot expect any other country to have the same judicial system they do.

When any person enters a foreign nation they are subject to justice under that countries' laws.




In the case quoted in the OP it does seem extreme to expect a mentally ill person to provide proof of their mental state, but China is not known for human rights for anyone caught committing a crime. They are known for being swift and brutal with justice

[BradyH1861]

I'm not commenting on this individual case alone.

Anyone traveling to any foreign country has to be extremely careful. Other countries have their own laws and do things their own way. Americans, Britons, Canadians, Germans, etc. cannot expect any other country to have the same judicial system they do.

When any person enters a foreign nation they are subject to justice under that countries' laws.


Good point.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Drug smuggler. In a country known for it's anti-drug stance.

Hmm.

I just can't get worked up about this one.

[Fran]

I saw this on the news and knew he wouldn't be reprieved. Notice how the UK government has pretty much given up lecturing China about human rights? We need their cheap goods too much. They can do what they like.

Also it's the height of hypocrisy for our government to give the Chinese a hard time about the death penalty when they don't do the same to the Americans.

[Don]

I saw this on the news and knew he wouldn't be reprieved. Notice how the UK government has pretty much given up lecturing China about human rights? We need their cheap goods too much. They can do what they like.
Isn't Globalization grand? :D

[Noah Body]

It's well known that most Asian countries take a very dim view when it comes to drug smuggling. In China there are even signs in the airports (in proper English, for once) advising incoming foreigners that the death penalty is considered appropriate for such a crime.

[Julie Worth]

The UK has lousy priorities.

[raburrell]

If you read a bit more about how this happened, it was one of those things where he was tricked into carrying a suitcase for someone else, on the promise the other guy would make him a pop star. (Maybe he had a clue of what he was carrying, maybe not - he claimed not.) Given his mental illness, it's conceivable to me at least he didn't know.

Not surprising for China, but not a good day for human rights either.

[benbradley]

... The Chinese embassy in London said Akmal Shaikh, 53, from Kentish Town, north London, had "no previous medical record" of mental illness ...
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, told a press briefing in Beijing: "No one has the right to comment on China's judicial sovereignty. It is the common wish of people around the world to strike against the crime of drug trafficking.
As opposed to the USA, where possession of illegal drugs is considered evidence of the "mental illness" of drug addiction, and the convicted person is required to attend drug treatment self-help groups as well as (other) sentencing.

[DWSTXS]

It's well known that most Asian countries take a very dim view when it comes to drug smuggling. In China there are even signs in the airports (in proper English, for once) advising incoming foreigners that the death penalty is considered appropriate for such a crime.

Seriously? Death penalty for drugs? wow. That's harsh, but then, it is their country. Now, I'd be interested in knowing if that stance has afforded them a lower drug usage and drug/crimes rate than other countries, like the U.S. for instance.

[aruna]

When any person enters a foreign nation they are subject to justice under that countries' laws.





Absolutely.
Drug smuggler. In a country known for it's anti-drug stance.

Hmm.

I just can't get worked up about this one.
It seems he was an unknowing mule. In which case, it might have been more to the point to use him to find the real bad guys.


If you read a bit more about how this happened, it was one of those things where he was tricked into carrying a suitcase for someone else, on the promise the other guy would make him a pop star. (Maybe he had a clue of what he was carrying, maybe not - he claimed not.) Given his mental illness, it's conceivable to me at least he didn't know.

Not surprising for China, but not a good day for human rights either.

Nope.

[Maxinquaye]

The taking of human life is beyond the pale if it's not to defend yourself or others from a direct threat.

Any country that has the death penalty is beyond the pale, whether that is Iran, China or the United States. Any country that does not aid citizens facing the death penalty is beyond the pale too.

[BradyH1861]

Any country that has the death penalty is beyond the pale,

Well I live in Texas. We are so far beyond the pale to be invisible!