Article author:
Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal from a woman seeking an apology and damages in a high-profile lawsuit filed by the country's short-lived #MeToo movement.
A Beijing court, after a closed-door hearing, ruled that evidence submitted by Zhou Xiaoxuan was insufficient to prove sexual harassment, giving its first judgment last September. supported.
Zhou, a former intern at China Central Television, a state-owned broadcaster, complained in 2014 that Zhu Jun, a CCTV host, forced him to kiss him by groping. Other women started speaking up.
The #MeToo movement was largely shut down after a brief swell. Activists found their online posts censored and faced pressure from authorities when they tried to protest.
On Wednesday, police cordoned off the sidewalk outside the courthouse building and told journalists not to film anything or gather together, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zhou filed a lawsuit against Zhu to counter the lawsuit brought against Zhu. She asked for her public apology and her 50,000 yuan ($7,600) in damages. Zhu denies her charges.
In a video posted online one day before her Wednesday hearing, Ms Zhou said she has no regrets in pursuing her case.
"I sincerely hope that people will not have to suffer in the future," she said. She said, "I hope the next victim will find it easier to enter the legal process."
