Reaction to Briton Executed by China

China which, has warned Britain that it must stop its fierce condemnation of its judicial process, executed Akmal Shaikh for drug smuggling. The execution has provoked strong criticism from Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP who said in a statement that he was 'appalled'.

Shaikh was executed by lethal injection at 10.30am local time on Tuesday, 29th December 2009 (2:30am GMT) at the Xishan Detention Centre in Urumqi, in the far west of China. Government ministers repeatedly called on China to show clemency because Shaikh was believed to suffer from severe bipolar disorder.

In Lincoln yesterday I was surprised that the matter came up in conversation, and more surprised at the disconnect between the position of the British Government and the public. All, universally supported China's right to try, convict and punish offenders in their own way, without interference. A source who attended a prayer session at the cathedral in the city has reported that two Roman Catholic nuns also thought what China has done was right - obviously in spite of the Church's teaching on the sanctity of life.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry expressed China’s anger at the British Government’s response to the death sentence. spokeswoman Jiang Yu said:

"Nobody has the right to speak ill of China’s judicial sovereignty.

"We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition over the groundless British accusations. We hope that the British side can view this matter rationally and not create new obstacles in bilateral relations."

Since Shaikh was arrested at Urumqi airport with four kilos of heroin in September 2007, China denied repeated requests for him to be examined by a doctor. His family insist he was tricked into carrying the drugs by a criminal gang.

China has a zero tolerance policy towards drug smugglers, whether Chinese or foreign. It is also extremely sensitive towards any attempts to interfere in what it regards as its internal affairs.

Senior Lib Dem Councillor's Comments on Drugs Attacked

A senior Liberal Democrat councillor from Lincolnshire has come under fire after saying that drug possession should start to be legalised.

The mother of a 15-year-old girl from Lincoln who almost died after a suspected drugs overdose blasted county councillor John Marriott's comments as 'rubbish'.

Councillors, the city's MP, the Home Office and a senior lawyer have all lined up to attack his argument.

And even his own party – the Liberal Democrats – has said it does not agree with him.

The Hykeham Forum councillor's comments come after the Government's top drug advisor was sacked for claiming that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than LSD, ecstasy and cannabis.

Cllr Marriott, an experienced local politician, said that many people would be 'shocked' by his views.

But he thinks current drug laws have failed.

The mother of the teenage girl – who was on a life support machine earlier this year – said: "It's making it easier for people to get drugs.

"Those who get caught with drugs should be punished more, not less."