China executes British national on drug smuggling charges
China executed on Tuesday a British national suspected of smuggling drugs into the country, Britain`s Foreign Office in London has confirmed.
Akmal Shaikh, 53, has become the first western European in 50 years to be executed in China. Shaikh was detained by Chinese police in 2007 for having 4 kilograms of heroin in his possession.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "appalled" and condemned the execution "in the strongest terms," BBC reported. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also "deeply regretted" the outcome of the case, citing Shaikh`s mental health issues and interpretation problems during his trial.
Family members said Shaikh had no idea he was carrying drugs in a suitcase when he was detained. His daughter, Leilla Hornsell, said her father was approached in Poland by a group of individuals, who promised to make him a music star in China if he delivered a suitcase. Shaikh suffers from a bipolar mental disorder.
Amnesty International said in a report that China carried out 72% of all executions in the world in 2008. The group said 1,718 people were executed in China. Those sentenced to death are usually shot.
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