More than two years ago, He Qian, a former journalist in China, came forward with accusations of sexual assault against a well-known reporter. Her story has spread widely on the internet, helping to power China’s emerging #MeToo movement.
Now Mrs. He (32) was punished for it. A Chinese court ruled this week that it violated defamation laws by disclosing her accusations.
She and a friend, Zou Sicong, who helped her share her story online, were ordered to pay more than $ 1,800 in legal fees and damages to the man who killed Ms. Sicong. He accused of assaulting Deng Fei, a journalist from a Chinese magazine. Mr. Deng denied the allegations.
“Chinese law needs to do more to respond to #MeToo,” she said. He, who also uses the first name Belinda, said in an interview. “It’s just the beginning and not long enough.”
The case of Mrs. Is a careful test of the Chinese government’s tolerance for the small but cheerful #MeToo movement in the country. The ruling by the court in the eastern city of Hangzhou highlights the challenges for women in China that emerge with accusations of sexual harassment and assault against prominent men.
#MeToo has gained traction in China over the past few years, despite the ruling Communist Party’s strict limits on activism and dissent and its strict control over the internet. A number of prominent men at Chinese businesses, religious institutions and universities have been forced to resign after women spoke out about harassment and abuse.
But there are still many obstacles. Rape and sexual harassment are considered taboo subjects in China. Authorities often discourage women from filing complaints. And in recent years, men accused of harassment have sued their accused for libel. According to critics, this is an attempt to intimidate and silence them.
In her article, which was distributed online in China after Mr. Should have published it on his social media account, he wrote about her time in 2009 as a 21-year-old intern at Phoenix Weekly, a Chinese magazine, where Mr. Deng was the lead journalist. She said that Mr. Deng invited her to a hotel room to discuss stories, and then kissed and touched her violently.
After the article was published, Mr. Deng both he and mr. Would be sued for defamation.
The court in Hangzhou found him on the side of Mr. Deng stated and said that he and mr. Would not have provided sufficient evidence of the alleged assault. “What they describe has no factual evidence and legal basis,” the court said.
Me. He and mr. Would have said they would appeal the decision.
Mr. Deng did not respond to a request for comment. “I have never done such a bad and stupid thing,” he said in a recent post on social media about me. He’s written accusations. He said he could not remember meeting her.
Mr. Would said Chinese law should respond more to women making allegations of assault and harassment.
“To hope that a topic just disappears and returns to the old world is ignorant and obligatory,” he wrote on WeChat, a popular social media app. “Until the end, I will take responsibility for publishing the article on He Qian.”
The decision was a setback for activists who were eager to protect the rights of women and return against China’s patriarchal culture.
Feng Yuan, a co-founder of a women’s non-profit organization in Beijing, said the court “completely denied the existence of sexual harassment.”
“Many people will even feel powerless in the face of sexual harassment,” Ms Feng said.
Despite the government’s efforts to curb activism, the #MeToo movement in China has achieved some success and continues to enjoy support among women from diverse backgrounds.
Last month, a court in Beijing heard the case of Zhou Xiaoxuan, a former intern at the Chinese state broadcaster who accused a prominent television personality, Zhu Jun, of sexual assault. (Mr Zhu denied the allegations.) Dozens of people gathered outside, some holding signs with the #MeToo hashtag, in evidence of support rare at Chinese court proceedings.
Despite the court’s ruling, Ms. He said she will continue to address her case. She said she was encouraged that her case had sparked a discussion of women’s rights in China.
“The worst case scenario,” she said, “would be if no one discussed or paid attention to this topic and no one dared to stand up.”
Albee Zhang contributed research.