BEIJING, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- China, facing international pressure over a death sentence handed to a Briton convicted of heroin trafficking, says it is handling the case correctly.
Akmal Shaikh, 53, is sentenced to die Dec. 29 after being convicted of carrying up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms) of heroin at the Urumqi Airport in September 2007. The British government is urging clemency for the man but China said Shaikh was given legal rights that were observed, CNN reported Tuesday.
"This case has always been handled according to law," Jiang Yu, a spokeswomen for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters. "During the trial, the defendant has been guaranteed his legal rights. Everyone knows that international drug smuggling is a grave crime."
The U.S. broadcaster said the British Foreign Office issued a statement saying: "We are alarmed and deeply concerned at this news. We will be using the next few days to renew and intensify our appeal to the Chinese authorities for clemency."
The non-governmental agency Reprieve says Shaikh may be suffering from bipolar disorder and claims Chinese authorities have blocked requests to allow him to be examined by a doctor, CNN reported.
