(With apologies to the relatives of Akmal Shaikh – I’m using somewhat impolite terms for mental illness)
The Chinese government has just executed an Englishman for drug smuggling despite the fact that he was plainly more than a little unhinged. Even ignoring the fact that executions are a barbaric way of dealing with criminals, not taking into account someone’s mental health is positively medieval.
Well it would be except that medieval societies may well have been a trifle more understanding of those with mental health issues than the Chinese authorities have been.
The Chinese authorities are claiming that there are no reports indicating that Akmal has mental health issues, but it doesn’t take a report to know that he’s a bit of a fruitcase. And if there has not been a mental health assessment it is fully the responsibility of the Chinese authorities that there hasn’t been one!
Apparently the Chinese authorities are annoyed that people are criticising them for executing Akmal. They claim we have no right to criticise them! Well it’s not about whether we have the right to criticise them but about whether we find the behaviour of the Chinese authorities repugnant.