Society

Internet users back China's decision on UK drug smuggler

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-29 15:46

Internet users at the main Chinese portals such as sina.com and 163.com praised China's decision to approve the death penalty for British drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh.

The news report ranks No.1 on the "top 10 news stories with most comments" list at sina.com. A large proportion of the views expressed support for the decision from the Supreme Court of China.

A reader named "River of Justice" said: "Everyone is equal before the law. No matter who he is, a Chinese or a foreigner, the result is the death penalty when he commits such a crime."

Another reader named "Du Yunqing" wrote: "In the past, we weren't able to kill a foreigner who commits a crime (on Chinese land) because you (British) got the consular jurisdiction using guns and cannons; Nowadays, you stop interfering on our own land where we have the right to do so."

A reader named "freefool" said: "the supreme court of China set a good example in maintaining its independence of jurisdiction."

Another unnamed user from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province said: "it's a slap on the face of those arrogant Europeans."

British web users also commented on the issue which was of great concern to the British government.

"Matthew Turner", a commentator at timesonline.com, wrote: "Good for China. As an Englishman I respect the Chinese decision to enforce the laws of their own land..."

Another named "Samuel Allen" wrote: "It's never pleasant to hear of another man's execution, but the law is the law. If you do the crime, you must do the time."