China Executes British Drug Smuggler

Despite protests from the British government and human-rights activists worldwide, China today executed by firing squad a Briton convicted of smuggling drugs into the country. Supporters say Akmal Shaikh, 53, had bipolar disorder; the Foreign Office’s complaint centered on concerns China had not taken those issues into account in condemning him to death. Shaikh was caught with nearly 9 pounds of heroin, Chinese officials say, noting that possession of about 1.8 ounces is enough to incur the death penalty.
(More Akmal Shaikh stories.)