# Who caused this school uniform to be stained with blood?
Compiled from: The Paper, Zhihu, Beijing News
Event review:
On May 30, a Weibo account named “Little Island in the Big Sea” suddenly posted a long Weibo post, accusing her daughter’s teacher of corporal punishment despite knowing the child had asthma, causing her daughter to vomit a large amount of blood, severe enough to endanger her life, and even posted multiple photos of a school uniform covered in “blood.”
Afterward, the account posted more than a dozen Weibo messages in a single day, stating that her child had been victimized for half a year without anyone paying attention, and pleading with netizens to help her “seek justice.”
The shocking impact of the blood-stained clothes finally propelled the incident to quickly trend on hot searches, with major media outlets like People's Daily and The Paper swiftly following up.
Faced with such horrifying and inhumane experiences, everyone's compassion and indignation were aroused. Netizens actively helped share the posts, hoping to reach a wider audience and prompt the investigation team to take action.
After the incident, the Baiyun District Education Bureau of Guangzhou quickly set up a special investigation team to clarify the facts. Netizens joked that the complaint had been ignored for half a year, but as soon as it trended online, an investigation team was immediately formed.
Event Reversal:
On May 31, Guangzhou Baiyun police reported:
Regarding the online rumor that a teacher from Guangzhou Fangyuan Experimental Primary School was suspected of physically punishing a student, the police have actively cooperated with relevant departments in conducting an investigation.
Following investigation and evidence collection, the poster Liu (Weibo username: The Big Sea on the Little Island) admitted that the claims—including her daughter vomiting blood due to corporal punishment, being threatened and beaten by a teacher at 2 a.m., and giving the teacher 60,000 yuan—were fabricated.These are lies deliberately fabricated by her to amplify publicity. The "bloodstains" on the clothing shown in the photos were in fact cosmetics and water, and her daughter is currently in good mental condition.
According to the hospital that received Liu's daughter, neither the patient nor her family mentioned a history of asthma or vomiting blood during the visit, and Liu is currently unable to provide any medical records proving his daughter's asthma diagnosis.Meanwhile, during the investigation, the police also found evidence that Liu had hired individuals to engage in online promotion.
At present, Liu's actions have severely disrupted public order, caused a negative social impact, and are suspected of constituting the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. The police have filed a case for investigation and have taken criminal detention measures against Liu in accordance with the law.
Relevant laws:
1. Defamation
Objective manifestations: (1) The actor fabricates and disseminates certain fictitious facts; (2) The fabricated facts are sufficient to damage another person's character and reputation; (3) The circumstances are serious.
Sentencing standard: shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights.
Note: This charge isa crime that requires a complaint, meaning Liu Yan must file a lawsuit with the People's Court on her own for the court to accept the case. However, there is an exception for cases that seriously harm social order and national interests. In this case, it cannot be ruled out that the public security authorities may classify this incident as seriously harming social order and causing significant impact.
2. Crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble
Objective manifestation: acts of creating trouble without cause, stirring up disturbances, and disrupting public order.
According to judicial interpretation: Fabricating false information, or knowingly spreading fabricated false information on the internet, or organizing or instructing others to spread such information, causing a disturbance and seriously disrupting public order, shall be punished as the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble.
Sentencing standard: Fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years, criminal detention, or public surveillance.
3. Civil liability
In civil law, it also constitutes an infringement of the right to reputation. Reference to the Civil Code that has not yet been implemented:
Article 1024 of the Civil Code: A civil subject enjoys the right of reputation. No organization or individual may infringe upon another person's right of reputation by means of insult, defamation, or otherwise.
Liu Yan may file a lawsuit with the court to demand that Liu restore her reputation, eliminate the impact, and make an apology.
Author's viewpoint:
Things have come to this point today. The evil done by this parent lies not only in forgery and exaggeration, not only in framing others and institutions with falsehoods. Her greatest evil is that she exploited the public's kindness and internet self-media, the platform through which ordinary people can voice their final, faintest cry. She staged a real-life version of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” online. What she has consumed is the public's conscience and the credibility of the internet. What she has squandered is the right of the child who will truly be physically punished and cough up blood in the future to seek justice from society.
[3] At the same time, many have commented that the law is meaningless, that public authority is untrustworthy, and that the teacher in question has connections, among other remarks.
[4] However, a modern civilized society is one governed by the rule of law. Even if the national legal system has imperfections or areas needing improvement, the law is a set of norms protecting values such as fairness, justice, and freedom. We should have faith in the law, trust the law, and rely on the judiciary.
[5] As Chinese citizens, we are not only beneficiaries of a rule-of-law China but also its promoters and participants. Only when we understand and know the law, and are adept at using it to protect our own rights, can the law be engraved in everyone's heart and become a code of conduct for all—rather than allowing connections or backgrounds to become our guiding principles. Through legal education and trust in the law, we can enhance civic wisdom, prevent public opinion from being hijacked by mob mentality, and let each small step forward by individuals contribute to a giant leap for society.
