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Visual images and photos that have come to light in China show a man beating his wife to death as bystanders watch without getting involved, causing outrage and raising new questions about domestic violence.
Photos of the attack first appeared on social media and local media on Sunday and have been viewed millions of times since then.
State media reported that the violent incident occurred when the married couple accidentally collided with a vehicle with their electric scooter in the city of Swanzhou.
Police said in a statement that the woman was beaten to death on Saturday morning.
“The suspect is detained by public security authorities and the case is being thoroughly investigated,” police said.
In the images, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, including children, appear to be watching the man’s attack on his wife on the side of the road.
The posts on social media sparked thousands of comments and most users complained about inaction by passersby and indifference towards domestic violence in some areas of Chinese society.
“He’s not holding an automatic weapon, why didn’t anyone try to stop him?” One user wonders.
China enacted a specific law criminalizing domestic violence in 2015. Activists argue that domestic violence is often ignored.
When the law was passed, the ruling Panking women’s federation estimated that roughly one in four women in China had been abused by her husband during their marriage.
Each year, the authorities register between 40,000 and 50,000 complaints.
The outrage sparked by the incident is reminiscent of a 2011 incident, which was recorded on camera, with an infant in the city of Fosan, who was hit by a vehicle twice and was ignored by dozens of passersby.
Social media users point out that there is a widespread view in China that anyone who offers help can be called upon to cover the cost of hospital care.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
