A Chinese woman whose sexual harassment case against a popular TV host sparked a nationwide debate over #MeToo has accused a #Beijing court of unfair treatment and vowed to appeal after it ruled against her. theguardian.com/world/2021/sep…
The Haidian people’s court said in a judgment released late on Tuesday that Zhou Xiaoxuan did not meet the standard of proof in claiming that Zhu Jun, her superior at work, sexually harassed her.
“I told the court today that this incident happened when I was 21, and now I’m 28. In the last three years because of this legal case I wasn’t able to do other work. I was very sad and I couldn’t help but cried in the court today,” Zhou told the Guardian.
“I can accept all sorts of outcome, but I just want basic procedural justice,” she said, adding that she and her lawyers were deprived of the opportunity to fully put their case forward in the court.
Separately on her WeChat social media account, Zhou listed seven instances in which she implied that the court was unfair to her today.
She wrote to her supporters: “Failure is not shameful, and I am honoured to have stood with you together in the past three years … Thank you very much, everyone, I will definitely appeal.”
Earlier on Tuesday she was shoved by antagonistic bystanders as she headed to court for the second hearing of the civil case, which had been cancelled on its originally scheduled date in May.
One woman yelled “pandemic safety”, trying to prevent Zhou from speaking, while a man questioned whether it was appropriate for her to speak alone.
Many were there in support. “I think having one more person is a form of support, and form of power,” said Sophie Zhou (no relation), who said she kept her distance from the court as she saw police asking for ID numbers.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
