In perhaps one of the most bizarre stories of the year, an aspiring world pop star and British citizen turned drug mule was executed yesterday by Chinese authorities.
Akmal Shaikh, who by all appearances was mentally disturbed, left his home in the Kentish Town area of London for Poland in 2005. He planned to start an airlines company, despite being broke and lacking any aviation experience. The venture failed, and he turned his sights towards music.
Akmal recorded an off-key single called "Come little Rabbit" which he was convinced would bring about world peace. Some unsavory characters found Akmal and told him that they had connections with a producer in Kyrgyzstan who could make him a star. Watch a video of the song here.
Eager to visit that world-renowned center for the music recording industry, Akmal accepted his new friends' offer to to take him to Kyrgystan. Once in Kyrgystan, he was introduced to another man who supposedly ran a huge nightclub in China. This nightclub, the man said, would be the perfect venue for Akmal's world-changing debut performance.
En route to China, Akmal and his handlers made a detour in Tajikstan, a world entrepot for Afghan heroin. They gave Akmal a suitcase, and told him that they would follow him on the next flight to China. Once Akmal touched down in Umruqi (Xinjiang Province, China) Chinese authorities seized his suitcase. It was filled with 4 kilos (around $500,000) of heroin. Akmal was tried for drug smuggling and sentenced to death.
In spite of Britain's last minute pleas to consider Akmal's mental state, which was clearly bipolar or schizophrenic, Akmal was executed yesterday.
The hottest fires in hell should be reserved for the heroin smugglers who took advantage of this hapless man. It is a disgrace that Chinese authorities did not have mercy on him, and that Britain and the EU didn't put more pressure on the Chinese government to deport him back to Britain. And it is tragedy that Akmal never received the mental help that he needed.
Akmal Shaikh, who by all appearances was mentally disturbed, left his home in the Kentish Town area of London for Poland in 2005. He planned to start an airlines company, despite being broke and lacking any aviation experience. The venture failed, and he turned his sights towards music.
Akmal recorded an off-key single called "Come little Rabbit" which he was convinced would bring about world peace. Some unsavory characters found Akmal and told him that they had connections with a producer in Kyrgyzstan who could make him a star. Watch a video of the song here.
Eager to visit that world-renowned center for the music recording industry, Akmal accepted his new friends' offer to to take him to Kyrgystan. Once in Kyrgystan, he was introduced to another man who supposedly ran a huge nightclub in China. This nightclub, the man said, would be the perfect venue for Akmal's world-changing debut performance.
En route to China, Akmal and his handlers made a detour in Tajikstan, a world entrepot for Afghan heroin. They gave Akmal a suitcase, and told him that they would follow him on the next flight to China. Once Akmal touched down in Umruqi (Xinjiang Province, China) Chinese authorities seized his suitcase. It was filled with 4 kilos (around $500,000) of heroin. Akmal was tried for drug smuggling and sentenced to death.
In spite of Britain's last minute pleas to consider Akmal's mental state, which was clearly bipolar or schizophrenic, Akmal was executed yesterday.
The hottest fires in hell should be reserved for the heroin smugglers who took advantage of this hapless man. It is a disgrace that Chinese authorities did not have mercy on him, and that Britain and the EU didn't put more pressure on the Chinese government to deport him back to Britain. And it is tragedy that Akmal never received the mental help that he needed.
