Akmal Shaikh
Akmal Shaikh RIP
Despite a clear history of mental health problems in the period leading up to his arrrest and conviction for drug smuggling, British citizen Akmal Shaikh was executed in China this morning.
Anyone with any experience of working with people who have mental health problems will easily identify elements of mental illness in descriptions of Mr Shaikhs behaviour. It seems clear to me that there is a very obvious history of mental health problems and it is puzzling that the Chinese Government is still insisting that there is no such history.
People with problems such as those experienced by Mr Shaikh often do not have a firm grasp of reality and would be very vulnerable to manipulation by unscrupulous individuals. The likely influence of such factors appears to have been completely ignored by the authorities in China.
I hope that mental health nurses worldwide will join me in condemnation of this dreadful action -- please take a moment to click on the links below.
Reprieve Youtube video
Amnesty International reaction
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Comments
[...] More condemnation of Shaikh’s execution at the Mental Health Nurse Lecturers Tea Party. Anyone with any experience of working with people who have mental health problems will easily identify elements of mental illness in descriptions of Mr Shaikhs behaviour. It seems clear to me that there is a very obvious history of mental health problems and it is puzzling that the Chinese Government is still insisting that there is no such history. [...]
Thank you for this post, and so sorry that nothing could be done to help/save Akmal Shaikh. Here is more information that give us mental health professionals a glimpse into the ocean of work left to strenghten patients rights worldwide… And Akmal’s song…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFv0eS5p9hs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/28/akmal-shaikh-execution-china-mental-illness