Akmal Shaikh

[DannyBoy]

I'm hoping that America hasn't even heard about this - Akmal Shaikh told of execution for drug smuggling judging by the lack of results in a search.

If you have, what's your thoughts?

 

[tvarad]

I'm hoping that America hasn't even heard about this - Akmal Shaikh told of execution for drug smuggling judging by the lack of results in a search.

If you have, what's your thoughts?

At the very least, he was a dumb-ass and had "execute me" written on his forehead when he tried to smuggle in 4KG of heroin into a far-eastern country where they very clearly state on signs at the immigration counters as well as on immigration related paperwork that the penalty for drug-trafficking is death. But if we play the law of averages, here's a post I culled from somewhere else that shows how many lives were saved by not letting the stuff get on the street:

"1700 executions per year for a population of 1,4 billion people sounds rather moderate ? This guy was trafficking 4 kilos of heroin – it takes less than 2 grams of heroin for an pretty 15 year old blonde English girl to overdose and die ; with the 4 kilos of heroin this man trafficked it could have led to the drug enslavement and deaths of up to 2000 youngsters. What is the real crime here ? Killing one trafficker or killing 2000 young people and condemning them to a life of heroin enslavement and prostitution ?"

So, why is this guy's life so special? Look at how Mexico has been turned upside down and thousands have died in war against drugs raging there, including the family of a soldier killed by these guys very soon after his burial. These drug-running pr*cks have zero tolerance for anyone who gets in their way and eliminating one of them should not even be news-worthy, except for the obituary page.

The condescension shown in some of the reporting that basically goes "Oh, we're this very human-rightsy Western people and you're these savage Eastern backward people so you have obviously got it wrong" is grating. But like in the Swiss minarets issue, if you take a poll of what people on the street actually think about it, I would bet that 99.9% would vote to have the guy strung up.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

OP will probably need more commentary than that to stay open, just FYI.

As for my opinion, I think it's horrible and barbaric that anyone would consider a death penalty for drug related crimes, but everyone knows the laws in these shitty countries WRT drug smuggling so it's difficult to sympathize.

 

[Dari]

Who gives a fuck. This isn't a political crime. He's a drug dealer and deserves death.

 

[Zebo]

Who gives a fuck. This isn't a political crime. He's a drug dealer and deserves death.

Yup - I heart China.

There is only two way to deal with drugs zero tolerance or legalize it everything in between is a disaster.

 

[Craig234]

If the only choices were to let drugs destroy the people of a nation (people who made the mistake to use them), or capital punishment, tvarad would have an argument to make.

But that's not the case. There's nothing to gain executing the person instead of a jail sentence, and the combinatin of poverty and mney to be made guarantess more poor people will try and get executed.

The choice is more whether to kill the people who do this very harmful action or to put them in jail.

It is interesting to note, though, the contrast between their treatment, and the treatment of those in the legal alcohol industry here, which also leads to the loss of hundreds of thousands of American lives.

But that's business! Something to think about. Drugs are not an easy issue, and taking out the anger at their harm on the dealer with execution doesn't hold up well IMO.

 

[Atheus]

I'll post my bit since this is a big story over here and is currently causing a fairly significant diplomatic incident. The guy is seriously mentally ill and was told by smugglers that they would make him a pop star and he would save the world if only he carried this little bag on the plane. He has literally no idea what is happening. He wouldn't be executed in any western country. If he is executed he will be (AFAIK) the only westerner executed in China in the last 50 years.

As I type this the BBC reports he has indeed been executed.

 

[venkman]

Yup - I heart China.

There is only two way to deal with drugs zero tolerance or legalize it everything in between is a disaster.

zero tolerance? Are you serious? He tried to smuggle in 4 KGs of heroine. This isn't some pothead who forgot he had his dime bag packed in his carry on.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Execution of a narcotics trafficker... dang... that is harsh. But, they do tend to execute politicians for corruption, so I guess a drug trafficker is game.

I guess they are really afraid of the situation from the days before The Opium Wars returning.

 

[Jhhnn]

Good luck to the guy, crazy or not. He'll need it, because the Chinese are quite ruthless when it comes to heroin smuggling.

A huge segment of their population was enslaved, addicted to opium brought from Bengal by British and American traders in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It drained their resources, caused huge social problems, led to ignomious defeat in the opium wars and years of foreign domination. So the whole thing isn't just about drugs, but about imperialism and all that it means in their unique cultural context...

http://wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/OPIUM.HTM

 

[Dari]

He's dead. Not much the British can do. They are a small, insignificant country that's drowning in debt and being taken over by Muslims.

 

[Zebo]

He's dead. Not much the British can do. They are a small, insignificant country that's drowning in debt and being taken over by Muslims.

LOL - Don't let that John dude from UK's Task Force Pink hear ya.

 

[yuan456]

Good luck to the guy, crazy or not. He'll need it, because the Chinese are quite ruthless when it comes to heroin smuggling.

A huge segment of their population was enslaved, addicted to opium brought from Bengal by British and American traders in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It drained their resources, caused huge social problems, led to ignomious defeat in the opium wars and years of foreign domination. So the whole thing isn't just about drugs, but about imperialism and all that it means in their unique cultural context...

http://wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/OPIUM.HTM

yes, you are right.i remember the year, 1840, when i heard this news first time.

 

[CanOWorms]

Good luck to the guy, crazy or not. He'll need it, because the Chinese are quite ruthless when it comes to heroin smuggling.

A huge segment of their population was enslaved, addicted to opium brought from Bengal by British and American traders in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It drained their resources, caused huge social problems, led to ignomious defeat in the opium wars and years of foreign domination. So the whole thing isn't just about drugs, but about imperialism and all that it means in their unique cultural context...

http://wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/OPIUM.HTM

Yup, there is a lot of resentment towards the British all over the world. It's hard for people to realize that the history of colonialism still has a huge impact.

 

[palehorse]

damnnn, I wish we could do the same here in the States.

He got what was coming to him. Good.

/case closed

 

[JEDIYoda]

Actually he totally got what he deserved...totally!! 100%!!!

 

[Zorkorist]

Yup, there is a lot of resentment towards the British all over the world. It's hard for people to realize that the history of colonialism still has a huge impact.

Good luck to the guy, crazy or not. He'll need it, because the Chinese are quite ruthless when it comes to heroin smuggling.

A huge segment of their population was enslaved, addicted to opium brought from Bengal by British and American traders in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It drained their resources, caused huge social problems, led to ignomious defeat in the opium wars and years of foreign domination. So the whole thing isn't just about drugs, but about imperialism and all that it means in their unique cultural context...

http://wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/OPIUM.HTM

It's good to see how justice is blind, NOT.

-John

 

[Zebo]

Seems China didn't buy his mental defect defense (the most ridiculous thing psychology ever invented). He's dead. RIP.

 

[Craig234]

Seems China didn't buy his mental defect defense (the most ridiculous thing psychology ever invented). He's dead. RIP.

You are tragically ignorant on the matter. It's a very valid area of criminal justice.

 

[between]

...

 

[JEDIYoda]

very sad. even sadder if he was, as the news reports suggest, delusional and taken advantage of

To which he still has to pay for his crimes...when in Rome do not get caught...in reality it is not sad at all.

He was sane enough to make his own decisions and according to his family he was able to think for himself...
RIP!!

 

[Zebo]

Anyone believes that mental ill canard is a fool. First what was a Briton , one who has hardly any employment history, i wonder why, doing roaming around Poland? Second it's not every day we have people approach us to deliver drugs into China, is it? Then that preposterous story about being a Chinese pop star. Forth no documented or adjudicated history of mental illness ever they just came up with it after conviction. Finally you, a drug dealer, gonna trust some nut with half a million dollars in smack?

 

[Zebo]

Good luck to the guy, crazy or not. He'll need it, because the Chinese are quite ruthless when it comes to heroin smuggling.

A huge segment of their population was enslaved, addicted to opium brought from Bengal by British and American traders in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It drained their resources, caused huge social problems, led to ignomious defeat in the opium wars and years of foreign domination. So the whole thing isn't just about drugs, but about imperialism and all that it means in their unique cultural context...

http://wsu.edu/~dee/CHING/OPIUM.HTM

That has little if nothing to do with it. Rape, huge embezzlement, murder, plotting terror, etc are all punishable by death in China. China, unlike west, just made a choice that real barbarism lies in refusing to punish criminals after seeing crime-ridden, fear-filled inner cities in the west that are far more savage than execution of criminals.

But hey don't let me stop the blame USA brigade.

 

[werepossum]

His defense was bipolar disorder - hardly considered a serious, debilitating mental illness. I've seen claims here that he "knew nothing" of the package and that he was only carrying it in order to become a pop star, which are mutually incompatible. No sympathy here.

 

[soulcougher73]

Could care less. You do stupid shit, stupid shit happens to you.