The level of disrespect by the Chinese paid to Britain and humanity in general is profound on so many levels. Britain does not allow the death penalty under any circumstances. For that matter neither does the EU as a whole. It’s a slap in the face of diplomacy to punish a citizen of another country for a crime which would not be punishable by death in the other country.

But to really understand the sadistic nature of China, just read the following quote from a BBC story about the murder:

The Shaikh family also said it was “particularly distasteful” that judges at an appeal hearing laughed openly at Akmal’s rambling speech as he pleaded for his life.

-source

It is worth noting that the trial lasted only half an hour and the patient was not even given psychiatric evaluation.

Over a year ago you may recall that I researched the organ trade in China. It is well documented that they (legally) use executed prisoners’ organs for transplant without permission. What is not well documented is the suspicion that prisoners of conscience, Falun Gong members, in particular are being executed solely for their organs which are then being sold to foreigners and others. But there is only circumstantial evidence of this, albeit a ton of it.

What I can’t seem to find out is if the family was able to verify that Akmal was killed by lethal injection. The family did not receive the body. China took the liberty of disposing of the body as well. Another profound disrespect.

China is getting too powerful and they must be stopped before they get even more power. China is testing the international community. We have to punish them before it gets even worse.

UPDATE (from the UK’s Daily Mail):

A British official said yesterday that the Chinese authorities had also denied relatives’ requests to inspect Mr Shaikh’s body.
His family had asked for a Muslim burial, which demands that the body be buried intact.
But China has a notorious record of harvesting executed prisoners’ organs and selling them for the domestic transplant trade.

It’s 5:18, and we’re still waiting for word from the U.S. Supreme Court.

If you pray, now is the time to do so again….

Follow the news at CNN.com or www.ajc.com

Just a few hours south of where Troy Davis waits, wondering if he will be killed in less than two hours, Richard Henyard is scheduled to be killed at 6pm by the people of Florida in revenge for his murders of Jamilya and Jasmine Lewis. At vigils around the state and at Florida State Prison at Starke, members of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty are protesting both scheduled executions.

If you are in the DC area, there is a vigil at the U.S. Supreme Court and another one near the Amnesty office at Seward Square park, eastern quadrant, located between 6th St SE, Pennsylvania Ave and North Carolina Ave SE. The closest metro station is Eastern Market. Both start at 6:45pm. There are dozens of other vigils around the country and abroad. See a list at http://www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis

We just received the following message from Troy’s sister, Martina, who left the prison a short while ago:

“Troy is in good spirits and still positive. Troy has said that whatever the outcome of today we must all keep fighting to end the death penalty, we must remain strong, and he is prayerful and positive. He will pray for all those who have done him wrong and he holds no malice against them. Troy thanks you all for all the hard work and support you have given.”

Martina adds:

“We will keep fighting to clear his name and carry out his wishes to have the death penalty abolished, and make sure everyone has justice in the way they should. Much love to you all.

TROY, MARTINA AND SUE”

***

The following is an account of a visit with Troy on Sunday. If you follow the link to read the full account, please excuse the partisan rhetoric at the top of the page. NCADP is non-partisan.

“Enough is Enough”
A Death Row Visit with Troy A. Davis

By PATRICK DYER

Yesterday I visited Troy Anthony Davis on Georgia’s death row, a little over 48 hours before the state plans to put him to death for a crime he didn’t commit. As I traveled the highway, through the red clay and green pine trees of Georgia this mild autumn Sunday morning listening to Bob Marley, I pondered what it might be like as an innocent man facing an execution in two days. Soon enough I arrived at the front wall of the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, located in Butts County, GA. The scenery just inside the front gate on Prison Boulevard, with pond, trees, flowers, and chirping birds belies the heinousness of what lies at the end of the road – a massive penitentiary housing the state’s death chamber for it’s ritual execution of prisoners.

Read this here:

http://www.counterpunch.org/dyer09232008.html

***

The following statement was issued earlier today by NCADP

STATEMENT FROM DIANN-RUST TIERNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, REGARDING A STAY OF EXECUTION FOR TROY DAVIS

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty joins with pro death penalty law enforcement officials, abolitionist, civil and human rights organizations in calling for a halt in tonight’s scheduled execution of Troy Davis. There is just too much doubt about whether Georgia is executing the right man to proceed. There is no public consensus in this case, and that should be required before the government asserts its power to kill. To the contrary – the lack of public consensus and concern is reason enough to stop.

We are at a watershed moment in this case. If the execution proceeds, the State of Georgia, its Board of Pardons and Parole and the Georgia criminal justice system will be going beyond the point of return. They will have crossed an unfortunate threshold. No individual or institution that loves justice or fairness will ever be able to look at the individuals involved in this process in the same way.

We will have learned in a sad and tragic way that in the State of Georgia it really doesn’t matter whether you are guilty or innocent of committing a crime once the State is determined to execute a man or a woman. What passes for justice in the State of Georgia is mere window dressing.

If we did not know and understand it before, we know now that the criminal justice system in Georgia is broken. Whatever happens tonight, the struggle is not over. We are committed to helping the citizens of Georgia root out and throw out what is broken in hopes of building a criminal justice system that is worthy of its citizens.

Davis should be given every opportunity to have his appeal heard, especially as he may be innocent. No physical evidence links him to the crime for which he was convicted, the shooting death of a police officer. Additionally, the prosecution based its case on the testimony of nine eyewitnesses, seven of whom have recanted their testimony. One of those who did not recant is a likely suspect in the case. Several of those who did recant indicated that they were coerced into falsely identifying Davis as the killer. There may be more evidence that law enforcement officials withheld information from the defense which would prove Davis’ innocence. Once a person is put to death there is no opportunity to revisit the decision. There can be no posthumous clemency. The State of Georgia should not execute an innocent man.

SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director of Affiliate Support
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
www.NCADP.org
abe@ncadp.org
202-331-4090
561-371-5204 (Mobile)

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Anyway, I think that Ahmadinejad is in many ways a mirror for Bush. He is laughably stupid, insanely religious and has a retarded face, just like Bush. THe both share a fondness for executions and a hatred for homosexuals.

It’s a shame we really don’t have the moral high ground to tell him that executions are a human rights violation. Heck, we don’t even tell China not to kill yoga practitioners for their organs, and as far as I know, we don’t do that ourselves.

Just something I’ve been thinking about.

Thanks, Xavier, for the link.

An execution cannot be used to condemn killing. Such an act by the state is the mirror image of the criminal’s willingness to use physical violence against a victim. Additionally, all criminal justice systems are vulnerable to discrimination and error. No system is or could conceivably be capable of deciding fairly, consistently and infallibly who should live and who should die. Expediency, discretionary decisions and prevailing public opinion may influence the proceedings from the initial arrest to the last-minute decision on clemency.

source