Fuss in China About Public Humiliation of Corona Suspects

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There has been a fuss about the treatment of four people suspected of violating corona rules in China. Police showed the suspects to a crowd in Jingxi city this week, state media reports.

They had to wear protective suits and had placards around their necks with their names and photos.

Images show that the four are being held by officers. Spectators, meanwhile, are kept at a distance by a large group of police officers. Authorities accuse the suspects of involvement in the smuggling of migrants. China is locked mainly to foreigners due to the corona pandemic.

The public humiliation is part of punitive measures announced by the local government in August to punish people who have broken health rules. Media writes that the screening was supposed to be a “warning” to the population, but critics on social media thought the approach went too far.

China banned public humiliation with “shame marches” in 2010. However, the practice has been resurfacing recently.

Last year, China virtually eradicated the coronavirus on its own territory but took radical measures to do so. International flights were restricted, and travellers were required to quarantine on arrival. Massive testing was also carried out, and movements were monitored.

Nevertheless, cases are surfacing, and such as in Xi’an, where 13 million people are in lockdown, China is imposing strict curfews.