Mainland Student's Fight Over Rape Case Goes Viral

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

Related News Programmes

"); });

2018-05-11 HKT 19:16

Share this story

facebook

  • The victim says photos of women's marches around the world inspired to take up the battle. Image: Shutterstock

    The victim says photos of women's marches around the world inspired to take up the battle. Image: Shutterstock

A graduate student has become a social media sensation on the mainland after attempting to sue police for dismissing her rape report, giving the country's fledgling #MeToo movement a new cause.

Renee Ren, 26, said her legal action was inspired by "photos of women's marches around the world".

In what is thought to be the first case of its kind by a rape victim, Ren has sued police over their "inaction" after she reported her assault.

The court that initially accepted her case dismissed it on a technicality last week, saying that as a member of the public she was not entitled to bring a criminal prosecution.

But the fact she was able to file at all was a significant victory in a country where citizens have few avenues to challenge authorities.

Ren filed an appeal on Friday, countering that her action should be considered a civil suit not a criminal one.

She says she is not seeking compensation, but wants the court to discipline officials at the Changjiang police station for the humiliation she suffered after reporting her assault.

Ren said in her lawsuit she was raped in a university dormitory garage last July by someone she knew.

Officers took photographs of her injuries but did not obtain surveillance video or make contact with her alleged attacker, Ren said.

At the time, a female officer admonished her, saying "not every sexual experience is good", she said.

With police refusing to investigate her case, she gave up – until the #MeToo movement ignited in the country earlier this year.

It was this public outpouring that prompted Ren to file her lawsuit – despite pressure from university administrators to drop the case.

"They called my parents and said to them I might not graduate or find a job," Ren said.

Ren's blog posts on the popular Weibo platform have been viewed over 20 million times, with comments supportive of a new public face for a movement that has largely been concentrated in university campuses in China.

Neither the university nor the police have responded to questions. (AFP)

RECENT NEWS

Tycoon Sits China's University Exams For 27th Time

Among the millions of fresh-faced high schoolers sitting the nation's dreaded "gaokao" college entrance exam on Wednesda... Read more

China's First Home-grown Large Cruise Liner Undocks

The first large cruise liner developed by China completed its undocking in Shanghai on Tuesday, marking its complete tra... Read more

Chinese, US Diplomats Hold 'frank' Talks In Beijing

Meetings between senior mainland and US officials in China this week struck an upbeat chord, with both sides agreeing to... Read more

China's Cruise Industry Set To Make Waves Again

China's cruise industry, suspended for more than three years due to the pandemic, is expected to resume operations in th... Read more

Toll From Deadly Landslide Rises To 19

All 19 people caught in a landslide in Sichuan province on Sunday have been confirmed dead, state media reported, announ... Read more

'Nato-like Alliance Disastrous For Asia-Pacific'

Defence Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday told the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore that any moves to establ... Read more