The death penalty is once again delivered in China despite pleas from the UK as well as medical records that detailed the history of mental health problems with the convicted British drug smuggler. There are so many problems with the death penalty including executing the wrong person as well as executing people who have mental health issues. Unfortunately the US is unable to join the criticism since the death penalty is so widely used. The Guardian:
China was this morning condemned for its human rights record after a British man who, his supporters say, had mental health problems, was executed for smuggling drugs.
Akmal Shaikh, 53, was shot dead by a firing squad at 10.30am local time (2.30am British time) after frantic last-minute pleas for clemency by the Foreign Office failed.
Britain had demonstrated its anger with Beijing over the treatment of Shaikh, who had smuggled 4kg (8.8lb) of heroin into China, when it summoned the Chinese ambassador for a diplomatic dressing down at the Foreign Office.
