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| Execution 'shocked' Shaikh family | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The family of a British man executed in China for drug smuggling has expressed "outrage and shock" at the legal proceedings that resulted in his death. | |
| Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, died on Tuesday despite claims that he was mentally ill. | Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, died on Tuesday despite claims that he was mentally ill. |
| In a statement, his family said China's officials had "made a mockery of appeals for clemency" and ignored pleas for a mental health assessment. | In a statement, his family said China's officials had "made a mockery of appeals for clemency" and ignored pleas for a mental health assessment. |
| Britain has condemned the execution but China rejects the criticism. | Britain has condemned the execution but China rejects the criticism. |
| After the execution by lethal injection, the Chinese Embassy in Britain said Mr Shaikh's rights "were properly respected and guaranteed" and British concerns were "duly noted and taken into consideration". | After the execution by lethal injection, the Chinese Embassy in Britain said Mr Shaikh's rights "were properly respected and guaranteed" and British concerns were "duly noted and taken into consideration". |
| Akmal Shaikh's cousin, Nasir Shaikh: "We would like the Chinese authorities to know our anger and disgust" | Akmal Shaikh's cousin, Nasir Shaikh: "We would like the Chinese authorities to know our anger and disgust" |
| Beijing says Mr Shaikh was caught with more than 4kg of heroin in the north-western city of Urumqi in 2007. | Beijing says Mr Shaikh was caught with more than 4kg of heroin in the north-western city of Urumqi in 2007. |
| He had denied all knowledge of the drugs, and his daughter had said drug smugglers in Poland convinced him they would make him a popstar in China. | He had denied all knowledge of the drugs, and his daughter had said drug smugglers in Poland convinced him they would make him a popstar in China. |
| The legal charity Reprieve has said a report from a consultant forensic psychologist diagnosed Mr Shaikh with bipolar disorder and delusional psychosis. | The legal charity Reprieve has said a report from a consultant forensic psychologist diagnosed Mr Shaikh with bipolar disorder and delusional psychosis. |
| 'Distasteful' | 'Distasteful' |
| "We firmly believe Akmal should not have been killed by the Chinese - he was vulnerable and mentally unstable man, yet he received no mental health assessment by the Chinese authorities at any stage during the proceedings," the statement from the Shaikh family said. | "We firmly believe Akmal should not have been killed by the Chinese - he was vulnerable and mentally unstable man, yet he received no mental health assessment by the Chinese authorities at any stage during the proceedings," the statement from the Shaikh family said. |
| 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 estimatesThe penalty applies to 60 offences, including non-violent ones such as tax fraud and embezzlementThose sentenced to death are usually shot, but some provinces are introducing lethal injections China execution: World reaction Executions shrouded in secrecy Q&A: Bipolar disorder | 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 estimatesThe penalty applies to 60 offences, including non-violent ones such as tax fraud and embezzlementThose sentenced to death are usually shot, but some provinces are introducing lethal injections China execution: World reaction Executions shrouded in secrecy Q&A: Bipolar disorder |
| "Various other evidence documenting his mental health, obtained in the UK and Poland, was simply not taken into account. | "Various other evidence documenting his mental health, obtained in the UK and Poland, was simply not taken into account. |
| "We are outraged and shocked by this, and at the way the Chinese Government have made a mockery of appeals for clemency on behalf of Akmal by our Hon Prime Minster Gordon Brown, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Office Ministers. | "We are outraged and shocked by this, and at the way the Chinese Government have made a mockery of appeals for clemency on behalf of Akmal by our Hon Prime Minster Gordon Brown, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Office Ministers. |
| The Shaikh family also said it was "particularly distasteful" that judges at an appeal hearing laughed openly at Akmal's rambling speech as he pleaded for his life. | The Shaikh family also said it was "particularly distasteful" that judges at an appeal hearing laughed openly at Akmal's rambling speech as he pleaded for his life. |
| The family also called on the Chinese authorities to apologise for the execution. | The family also called on the Chinese authorities to apologise for the execution. |
| Separately, Mr Shaikh's cousins - who had made a failed last-minute attempt to plead for his life in China - expressed their "anger and disgust" at the execution. | Separately, Mr Shaikh's cousins - who had made a failed last-minute attempt to plead for his life in China - expressed their "anger and disgust" at the execution. |
| After flying back from China to Britain, they said the decision "had already been made" when they were appealing for clemency. | After flying back from China to Britain, they said the decision "had already been made" when they were appealing for clemency. |
| They said Mr Shaikh's clothes had been laid out for collection when they met him for the last time. | They said Mr Shaikh's clothes had been laid out for collection when they met him for the last time. |