Family demands inquest over British drug trafficker executed by Chinese

THE family of executed Briton Akmal Shaikh has called for the UK government to order an immediate inquest into his death in China.

Shaikh, 53, was convicted of heroin smuggling in China and executed by lethal injection last week despite pleas for clemency from Britain and human rights campaigners.

His family have written to Foreign Secretary David Miliband, urging him to call for an inquest to be held into the death.

Shaikh's brother, Akbar, wrote: "My family is suffering incredible grief and torment over the many unanswered questions surrounding Akmal's death.

"We have begged the Chinese for answers but none have been forthcoming. All this uncertainty is just too much for the family to bear.

"We therefore implore you to direct a coroner's inquest so that some of our questions can be answered, and the terrible mysteries surrounding my brother's apparent death, 7,000 miles from his family and all alone, can be resolved for us."

Shaikh's family, who are supported by human rights charity Reprieve, argue that the government has the power to call for an inquest.

Last night, Clive Stafford Smith, Reprieve's director, said: "Despite having flown to China to be with him, Akmal Shaikh's family were not told of his death until he was already apparently buried.

"Nobody told the family how or where he would be killed. No family member or independent observer was allowed to witness his death, view his body or verify his burial.

"We have only the word of a Chinese press release that he was even killed.

"An inquest would give this grieving family a crucial insight into Akmal's final hours, his mental state and the extent to which he suffered before he died.

"Only then can they begin to recover from the trauma of Akmal's lonely and senseless death."

Shaikh was believed to be seriously mentally ill.

Campaigners said in spite of his obvious problems, an assessment of his mental health was not carried out for the Chinese courts.

Some 27 separate representations were made at ministerial level on Shaikh's behalf to the Chinese authorities as efforts were made to spare his life.

Shaikh, from Kentish Town, north London – who was arrested in Urumqi, north west China, in September 2007 – was convicted of smuggling 4kg of heroin into the country.

The execution provoked strong criticism from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who, at the time of his death, said he was "appalled". Government ministers repeatedly called on China to show clemency because of Shaikh's mental state.

However, China warned Britain that the relationship currently enjoyed by the two countries was at risk.

Jiang Yu, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, expressed China's anger at the British government's response to the death sentence.

She 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."