Days left to save mentally ill Briton from execution

Londoner Akmal Shaikh was arrested in September 2007 in Urumqi, north-west China, and charged with drug trafficking.

Mr Shaikh suffers from bipolar disorder and lawyers representing him believe that he was targeted by traffickers due to his delusional nature.

He apparently believed he was going to China to record a hit single which would usher in an era of world peace.

Legal action charity Reprieve unearthed video footage of Mr Shaikh performing his song Come Little Rabbit which graphically illustrates his disturbed state.

Reprieve claims that this evidence, coupled with testimony of previous erratic behaviour, strongly supports the statement Mr Shaikh made when he was arrested that he did not know about the drugs.

It is argued that the traffickers identified him as someone who could be easily manipulated. They apparently promised to help him record his song, but when they arrived at the airport, the leader of the gang told Mr Shaikh that there was only one seat left on the plane and asked him to carry the suitcase.

Mr Shaikh aided the Chinese authorities with their inquiries but was convicted and sentenced to death in November 2008.

His final appeal was turned down on Monday and an execution date was set for December 29.

Reprieve points out that China has formally signed the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Article 6, section 4 of which provides: "Anyone sentenced to death penalty shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence.

"Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases."

Reprieve director Clive Stafford Smith has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to make urgent representations to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"Britain and the US chose to make China the scapegoat at Copenhagen which, given US intransigence over the past decade, might be viewed as hypocritical, " Mr Stafford Smith said.

"We very much hope that Akmal Shaikh does not become a victim of the regrettably cold political climate that has resulted.

"The Prime Minister should speak directly with President Hu, emphasise that Chinese compassion would be viewed as a great favour to the British people, and note the consistent view of Chinese and British doctors that a full mental health assessment is vital to assess how Akmal's illness contributed to the offence."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that Chinese authorities have informed us Akmal Shaikh is due to be executed on December 29. We are alarmed and deeply concerned at this news.

"This is obviously very distressing news for the family. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time, and we continue to provide them with support.

"We will be using the next few days to renew and intensify our appeal to the Chinese authorities for clemency. The Prime Minister and other ministers remain closely engaged."