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| Cousin 'sad' over executed Briton | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The cousin of a British man executed in China has said he is "sad and disappointed" by his death. | The cousin of a British man executed in China has said he is "sad and disappointed" by his death. |
| Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, was executed on Tuesday after being convicted of drug smuggling despite claims he was mentally ill. | Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, was executed on Tuesday after being convicted of drug smuggling despite claims he was mentally ill. |
| His execution went ahead despite repeated calls from his family and the British government for clemency. | |
| Soohail Shaikh thanked the government for its support, and the Chinese for letting him visit his cousin. | |
| He and his brother Nasir Shaikh had travelled to China to visit their cousin in prison and make a last-minute plea for clemency. | |
| 'Powerless' | 'Powerless' |
| Speaking to the BBC as he arrived at Beijing airport to fly back to the UK, Soohail Shaikh said: "I got a lot of tremendous support from the British government. I would like to thank the foreign secretary, the foreign minister and all the British consular here." | |
| He also thanked the Chinese government for allowing a visit to Mr Shaikh the day before he was executed. | He also thanked the Chinese government for allowing a visit to Mr Shaikh the day before he was executed. |
| But in a letter to The Guardian, Mr Shaikh's cousins Amina and Ridwan Shaikh said the UK had sought to protect its economic interests, rather than confront China over the case. | But in a letter to The Guardian, Mr Shaikh's cousins Amina and Ridwan Shaikh said the UK had sought to protect its economic interests, rather than confront China over the case. |
| CHINA DEATH PENALTY China executed 1,718 people in 2008, according to Amnesty InternationalLast year 72% of the world's total executions took place in China, the charity estimatesIt applies to 60 offences, including non-violent crimes such as tax fraud and embezzlementThose sentenced to death are usually shot, but some provinces are introducing lethal injections | CHINA DEATH PENALTY China executed 1,718 people in 2008, according to Amnesty InternationalLast year 72% of the world's total executions took place in China, the charity estimatesIt applies to 60 offences, including non-violent crimes such as tax fraud and embezzlementThose sentenced to death are usually shot, but some provinces are introducing lethal injections |
| Executions shrouded in secrecy Q&A: Bipolar disorder | Executions shrouded in secrecy Q&A: Bipolar disorder |
| It said: "Did the British government pull out its diplomats in protest? Did it have a hard-hitting strategy to persuade the Chinese authorities to change their decision? | It said: "Did the British government pull out its diplomats in protest? Did it have a hard-hitting strategy to persuade the Chinese authorities to change their decision? |
| "This is an example of Britain's powerlessness in the world." | "This is an example of Britain's powerlessness in the world." |
| On Tuesday, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis told the Chinese ambassador "China had failed in its basic human rights responsibilities". | On Tuesday, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis told the Chinese ambassador "China had failed in its basic human rights responsibilities". |
| In a statement issued after the execution, the Chinese Embassy said Mr Shaikh's rights "were properly respected and guaranteed" and British concerns were "duly noted and taken into consideration". | In a statement issued after the execution, the Chinese Embassy said Mr Shaikh's rights "were properly respected and guaranteed" and British concerns were "duly noted and taken into consideration". |
| It said: "As for his possible mental illness which has been much talked about, there apparently has been no previous medical record." | It said: "As for his possible mental illness which has been much talked about, there apparently has been no previous medical record." |
| A report from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said that China's Supreme People's Court had not been provided with any documentation proving that Mr Shaikh had a mental disorder. | A report from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said that China's Supreme People's Court had not been provided with any documentation proving that Mr Shaikh had a mental disorder. |
| Mr Lewis said the government had made 27 representations to China in two years, and believed it had done everything it possibly could. | Mr Lewis said the government had made 27 representations to China in two years, and believed it had done everything it possibly could. |
| Mr Shaikh is the first EU national to be executed in China in more than 50 years. | Mr Shaikh is the first EU national to be executed in China in more than 50 years. |
| In its statement, the Chinese Embassy said Mr Shaikh was convicted of "serious" drug trafficking. | In its statement, the Chinese Embassy said Mr Shaikh was convicted of "serious" drug trafficking. |
| Mr Shaikh's family said he had been delusional and duped into carrying a suitcase that did not belong to him when he was found with 4kg of heroin in Urumqi, north-west China, in September 2007. | Mr Shaikh's family said he had been delusional and duped into carrying a suitcase that did not belong to him when he was found with 4kg of heroin in Urumqi, north-west China, in September 2007. |
| His daughter has said drug smugglers in Poland convinced him they would make him a pop star in China. | His daughter has said drug smugglers in Poland convinced him they would make him a pop star in China. |