Akmal Shaikh executed

[rongravy]

This sounds like a job for... Fuck yeah!

[Chic Freak]

He looks pretty compus mentus to me. Are you serious? If so, congratulations on being better than all the most qualified medical staff in the world at identifying complex mental illness in a complete stranger from a single black and white snapshot No-one in human history has ever been able to successfully diagnose in this way so don't even go there. That's a cab office radio mic to the left too. Believe me, that's NOT an easy job. Working in a London cab office is mentally exhausting and requires you to have your wits about you. I should know, I did it for five years. No-one's saying he's thick, we're saying he may have suffered from delusions. There are plenty of highly intelligent and well-educated people who do. TBH, I think it's the place of anyone and everyone to point out injustice wherever they see it. + 1 000 000 As sentient creatures we have the right to criticise injustices that we see, perhaps even the duty. In this particular instance, my position is that if someone claims mental illness, especially when they have witness testimonies to support their claim, they should be assessed by an impartial psychologist hired by the court. China does have a legal concept of diminished responsibility due to mental illness so saying "that's just how they do it over there" or "justice is relative" is irrelevant to this debate, because the trial was unfair by Chinese standards.

[krakenslayer]

Are you serious? If so, congratulations on being better than all the most qualified medical staff in the world at identifying complex mental illness in a complete stranger from a single black and white snapshot No-one in human history has ever been able to successfully diagnose in this way so don't even go there.

[shootemindehead]

Fuck him. I know people who've died from the shit he was carrying and he was carrying a lot of it...too much for the old "oh, I didn't know what I was dong." He chanced his arm and got caught. Pity the people who gave it to him didn't get caught as well. No loss as far as I'm concerned.

[Andy]

Tbh I've stopped replying to this topic because if someone keeps telling themself that they are correct then they convince themself of this and once that happens nothing is going to get through to that person. At the end of the day, the guy commited a criminal offense, whether he was a retard or not, he got his punishment. I honestly don't see a injustice there, in fact I see the opposite whether u agree or not is irrelevant and quite frankly deluding yourself with some grandous idea that this is a injustice and you MUST point that out is pathetic, why don't you go to china and tell the relevant authority what you think? Also I've read today that the family of this guy are appealing to the British goverment to hold a inquest, why? I really don't see what this is going to acheive apart from strain our relationship with the most powerful country in the world even further. All over some mong who smuggled some smack.

[krakenslayer]

Tbh I've stopped replying to this topic because if someone keeps telling themself that they are correct then they convince themself of this and once that happens nothing is going to get through to that person. At the end of the day, the guy commited a criminal offense, whether he was a retard or not, he got his punishment. I honestly don't see a injustice there, in fact I see the opposite whether u agree or not is irrelevant and quite frankly deluding yourself with some grandous idea that this is a injustice and you MUST point that out is pathetic, why don't you go to china and tell the relevant authority what you think? Also I've read today that the family of this guy are appealing to the British goverment to hold a inquest, why? I really don't see what this is going to acheive apart from strain our relationship with the most powerful country in the world even further. All over some mong who smuggled some smack. "Retard?" Have you been reading these posts? He wasn't stupid, he was dusional. He was mental, not retarded. Anyway, look, I've known a lot of people who weren't retarded OR delusional who've made stupid mistakes in the past but have sorted themselves out, seen the error in their ways and become productive members of society. I know a lot of you guys are living in Robocop land where the easy answer to all of society's problems is to stick all criminals up against a wall and machinegun them, but the fact is that some people do deserve a second chance - I'm not talking about scumbag chav repeat offenders, Harold Shipmans, or terrorists, but ordinary guys who simply fuck up and make a dumbass decision that threatens their future and other people's wellbeing. Lots of us have made bad choices at some point, maybe not to the same extent, but put us in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people, in the wrong frame of mind... and who knows. And if the person in question is off his head that makes it even more poignant. By all means send him to jail for a few years, teach him a lesson, I wouldn't hope for anything less. But killing the guy is a crock of shit in my book, and I couldn't give a crap if that happens in my country or someone else's. Just because there's nothing anyone can do about it, doesn't mean I have to like it any more than I like the things that go on in Iran or North Korea.

[capncnut]

By all means send him to jail for a few years, teach him a lesson, I wouldn't hope for anything less. But killing the guy is a crock of shit in my book, and I couldn't give a crap if that happens in my country or someone else's. Just because there's nothing anyone can do about it, doesn't mean I have to like it any more than I like the things that go on in Iran or North Korea. I'm not saying that the punishment was fair. In fact, with the exception of child rape, and murder, I think the death sentence is far too harsh. BUT this is China we are talking about here, not Disneyland. Anyone with half a peanut for a brain surely realises that trafficking over there can only mean something incredibly bad. Like Andy says, if you don't like those apples then go write to China about it. Just don't come crying to us if two well dressed Chinamen come knocking at your door, saying, "herro, is you Martin?"

[Andy]

I know a lot of you guys are living in Robocop land where the easy answer to all of society's problems is to stick all criminals up against a wall and machinegun them, but the fact is that some people do deserve a second chance - I'm not talking about scumbag chav repeat offenders, Harold Shipmans, or terrorists, but ordinary guys who simply fuck up and make a dumbass decision that threatens their future and other people's wellbeing. Possibly the only thing you've said that we come close to agreeing on, only i beleive that if we had severe punishments for crimes such as drug abuse then people might not make that "dumbass decision" in the first place. you know, an actual deterent? I Do think the death penalty is very severe dont get me wrong but i also acknowlege that it is china's justice system, and it is my personal opinion that this guy was not mentally ill and knew exactly what he was doing. As ive said before, you do the crime, be prepared to do the time and if you dont like it, feel free to go to china and tell them what you think of them.

[Tricky]

Even if they hadnt put him to death, he should still have got 30 years in some stinking hell hole for what he was carrying, regardless of his mental state!

[darth los]

Even if they hadnt put him to death, he should still have got 30 years in some stinking hell hole for what he was carrying, regardless of his mental state! Ah, a good segway into what i was thinking about asking next. We're here discussing whether he got a bum deal but the issue of legality of drugs is n issue here as well. What i mean to say is should anyone, anywhere be locked up (Forget about ececuted) for possesing drugs at all? I see how you feel about it and i have to say i feel exacly the opposite. The punishments are all skewed everywhere you go anyway. Let's see, in NYC you get a mandatory 15 to life for possessing a frowned upon substance, A child rapist will get 7 and some therapy. WTF is that about? As i said earlier, forget bout executions and all that and I'm not saying no jailtime or punishment is warranted but, imo, giving someone a mandatory minimum of 15 years is barbaric in itself.

[krakenslayer]

As ive said before, you do the crime, be prepared to do the time and if you dont like it, feel free to go to china and tell them what you think of them. Like Andy says, if you don't like those apples then go write to China about it. Just don't come crying to us if two well dressed Chinamen come knocking at your door, saying, "herro, is you Martin?" I very much doubt, though, that China gives a turd about my opinion one way or the other. But the thing I'm defending against for, like, my last five posts is nothing to do with the executed guy himself but the whole "you can't slag it off because that's just how they do it there"-thing. IMO, that's hypocritical because we all get pissed off with, for example, countries with extremist Shari'a law that chop off gay men's willies and execute female rape victims as "adulteresses". Sure, this isn't as extreme as that, but the principle stands. Just because that's their legal system doesn't mean I have to like it or respect it. and it is my personal opinion that this guy was not mentally ill and knew exactly what he was doing. You might very well be right, but third-and-fourth hand speculation isn't sturdy enough to convince me that justice was done - particularly when the court didn't even see it necessary to bother pursuing that line of investigation. Like I said, I know my opinion isn't worth shit, but it's mine and I have to live with it.

[Andy]

I very much doubt, though, that China gives a turd about my opinion one way or the other. But the thing I'm defending against for, like, my last five posts is nothing to do with the executed guy himself but the whole "you can't slag it off because that's just how they do it there"-thing. IMO, that's hypocritical because we all get pissed off with, for example, countries with extremist Shari'a law that chop off gay men's willies and execute female rape victims as "adulteresses". Sure, this isn't as extreme as that, but the principle stands. Just because that's their legal system doesn't mean I have to like it or respect it. You might very well be right, but third-and-fourth hand speculation isn't sturdy enough to convince me that justice was done - particularly when the court didn't even see it necessary to bother pursuing that line of investigation. Like I said, I know my opinion isn't worth shit, but it's mine and I have to live with it. I Think what this whole argument boils down to is your defination of "justice" and your idea of what is just and what isnt. Myself, capn and several others here think that this is justice and he was dealt with appropriately for a man carrying enough smack to kill 28,000 people. Yourself, Chic and several others in this topic obviously think this is unjust and seem to be taking it on yourselves to compare the chinesse to third world countries which practice sharia law and even the nazi's. I Dont think either of us are going to shift on this matter to be honest as there really isnt any evidence either way, just speculation and opinion.

[krakenslayer]

seem to be taking it on yourselves to compare the chinesse to third world countries which practice sharia law and even the nazi's. I do see your point mate but, truthfully, I'm really not trying to compare China directly to the Nazis or Shari'a countries - I'm just pointing at some other, different things in the world that people tend to disagree with and using them as an example to show how people always slag off other countries' legal systems. I only picked those particular ones because they are so extreme and I didn't want to use an example we wouldn't all find disagreeable or my point wouldn't make sense.

[Andy]

I do see your point mate but, truthfully, I'm really not trying to compare China directly to the Nazis or Shari'a countries - I'm just pointing at some other, different things in the world that people tend to disagree with and using them as an example to show how people always slag off other countries' legal systems. I only picked those particular ones because they are so extreme and I didn't want to use an example we wouldn't all find disagreeable or my point wouldn't make sense. Of course i see your point and although i still think its out of context to compare china to the nazi's or sharia states (directly or indirectly) my anger on this topic is not directed at you or chic or anyone else on here, im pissed off at all the human rights groups for almost inciting hate against the chinese in our media, the guys family for demanding an inquest which like i said, i honestly dont see what they hope to get out of that.. and our goverment for their general handling of this situation. At the end of the day, whether you agree with china's actions or not, the guy commited a criminal act and has to pay the price, unfortunatly he was caught in china so im saying its fair to me that the china handle that themselves without all the meddling from the west, fair enough launch an appeal and ask for clemency but once they have said no and gone ahead with the execution, leave it at that. Greive. Move on, There is no need to damage our relationship with china to this extent when we are now a struggling country ourselves and not the big player on the world stage that we were 70 years ago. Our goverment should have better things to be doing, thats why im annoyed.

[shootemindehead]

One thing's for sure, regardless of whether one thinks the sentence was "fair"or not. It'll make others think long and hard before bringing that type of substance into China. ---------- Post added at 12:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 PM ---------- Of course i see your point and although i still think its out of context to compare china to the nazi's or sharia states (directly or indirectly) my anger on this topic is not directed at you or chic or anyone else on here, im pissed off at all the human rights groups for almost inciting hate against the chinese in our media, the guys family for demanding an inquest which like i said, i honestly dont see what they hope to get out of that.. and our goverment for their general handling of this situation. At the end of the day, whether you agree with china's actions or not, the guy commited a criminal act and has to pay the price, unfortunatly he was caught in china so im saying its fair to me that the china handle that themselves without all the meddling from the west, fair enough launch an appeal and ask for clemency but once they have said no and gone ahead with the execution, leave it at that. Greive. Move on, There is no need to damage our relationship with china to this extent when we are now a struggling country ourselves and not the big player on the world stage that we were 70 years ago. Our goverment should have better things to be doing, thats why im annoyed. At some point in a discussion, there is usually someone who introduces the "nazis" into the realm of debate as an example, because it is such a touchstone. Regardless of the fact that the vast majority of people haven't the first clue about National Socialism or the period in question. The nazis are such a fantastic bogeyman, it's impossible for some to resist. There's even a name for it. "Godwin's Law". Whether China chooses to implement a legal structure stipulating that the death penalty be enforced for importing lethal substances onto their soil, is entirely their business and has nothing to do with other nations. However, it's usually good "politics" for other nations to point their fingers and tut tut, because it creates a convenient distraction from their own short comings.