China confirms death sentence to British drug smuggler

**Dr.Knuckles** · 29th December 2009 12:54 PM

Yeah - and if this UK guy was in Canada I'd like to see him protected and not returned. However... he's there, he is by all accounts guilty of the law in question. I don't see the UK spending any resources to fight for his return.

And not to put too fine a point on it, but I really don't expect British public opinion and donations to rally behind a coke dealer named Akmal. If it was a spunky white lady they'd have candellight vigils and make a "based on real events" movie about her where she singlehandedly teaches those silly Chinese what real courage and freedom means... but Akmal's probably a gonner.

**johnflesh** · 29th December 2009 01:00 PM

[quote name='Dr.Knuckles' date='29 December 2009 - 12:54 PM' timestamp='1262112853' post='87943']

Yeah - and if this UK guy was in Canada I'd like to see him protected and not returned. However... he's there, he is by all accounts guilty of the law in question. I don't see the UK spending any resources to fight for his return.

And not to put too fine a point on it, but I really don't expect British public opinion and donations to rally behind a coke dealer named Akmal. If it was a spunky white lady they'd have candellight vigils and make a "based on real events" movie about her where she singlehandedly teaches those silly Chinese what real courage and freedom means... but Akmal's probably a gonner.

[/quote]

Definitely a gonner. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1262...WhatsNewsThird

**Feslin** · 29th December 2009 02:33 PM

[quote name='Inkslinger' date='29 December 2009 - 04:33 PM' timestamp='1262104381' post='87868']I would be against the death penalty here for it.

I guess I should have made myself a little clearer.

I think the man should be punished according to the laws he broke.

In this case, it was in China. He knew the risk he was taking.

I think this case is up to the citizens of China to make, not the Brits

or the U.S., or any other country for that matter.

And yes, I am a tad biased about heroin, as I have lost a few friends to it.[/quote]

So you have differing opinions concerning the propriety of law depending on which country is in question?

If the Chinese also made jaywalking a crime punishable by death and duly began hanging people found guilty of the crime would you also find that acceptable?

**Roach** · 29th December 2009 05:15 PM

[quote name='Dr.Knuckles' date='29 December 2009 - 06:54 PM' timestamp='1262112853' post='87943']

Yeah - and if this UK guy was in Canada I'd like to see him protected and not returned. However... he's there, he is by all accounts guilty of the law in question. I don't see the UK spending any resources to fight for his return.

And not to put too fine a point on it, but I really don't expect British public opinion and donations to rally behind a coke dealer named Akmal. If it was a spunky white lady they'd have candellight vigils and make a "based on real events" movie about her where she singlehandedly teaches those silly Chinese what real courage and freedom means... but Akmal's probably a gonner.

[/quote]

Beg to differ, its one of the leading stories for the last two weeks, only got nudged off by the snow last week and was back on right up to and after his execution.

His family claim he has mental problems, personally I don't know enough about this particular case. I don't agree with it but frankly the whole affair is a humiliation for Britain where our leaders ,parliament & Media can jump up and down demanding that he not be executed and no one even realises we're doing, apart from the Chinese who frankly didn't give a toss.

**longriver** · 31st December 2009 12:05 AM

[quote name='Roach' date='29 December 2009 - 06:15 PM' timestamp='1262128544' post='88128']

Beg to differ, its one of the leading stories for the last two weeks, only got nudged off by the snow last week and was back on right up to and after his execution.

His family claim he has mental problems, personally I don't know enough about this particular case. I don't agree with it but frankly the whole affair is a humiliation for Britain where our leaders ,parliament & Media can jump up and down demanding that he not be executed and no one even realises we're doing, apart from the Chinese who frankly didn't give a toss.

[/quote]

However, the UK government was annoyed by the sentence.

**Roach** · 31st December 2009 06:50 AM

[quote name='longriver' date='31 December 2009 - 06:05 AM' timestamp='1262239559' post='88961']

However, the UK government was annoyed by the sentence.

[/quote]

Is that not what I said? they were annoyed and the chinese didn't give a shit. It all pivots around the fact the chinese did not even bother to examine the guy for a mental disorder and held that he did not have one because he had no previous record of one.

**Inkslinger** · 31st December 2009 10:30 AM

[quote name='Feslin' date='29 December 2009 - 03:33 PM' timestamp='1262118821' post='88006']

So you have differing opinions concerning the propriety of law depending on which country is in question?

If the Chinese also made jaywalking a crime punishable by death and duly began hanging people found guilty of the crime would you also find that acceptable?

[/quote]

Hey, when you're in Rome.....

I happen to reside here in the U.S.

China is not a concern of mine, as I have no plans to ever visit.

**Inkslinger** · 31st December 2009 10:32 AM

[quote name='Roach' date='31 December 2009 - 07:50 AM' timestamp='1262263817' post='89111']

Is that not what I said? they were annoyed and the chinese didn't give a shit. It all pivots around the fact the chinese did not even bother to examine the guy for a mental disorder and held that he did not have one because he had no previous record of one.

[/quote]

I have a hard time believing that someone dealing that kind of quantity would entrust it in the hands of a retarded person.

**michaelr** · 31st December 2009 12:14 PM

I would appear China fired the first shot.....

Akmal Shaikh: China refers to controversial Opium Wars with Britain

Thats not as bad as it could have been. When I saw the title, I thought they wanted to invade Afghanistan too!

**Feslin** · 31st December 2009 02:38 PM

[quote name='Inkslinger' date='31 December 2009 - 04:30 PM' timestamp='1262277031' post='89194']Hey, when you're in Rome.....[/quote]

We clearly have differing ideas of morality. I, for one, don't believe that any action is acceptable if it takes place within another country.

I happen to reside here in the U.S.

Right, and you've never had problems with our legal system.

I wonder, do you take the same "when in Rome" attitude for our country?