10/6/2022

One of China’s Biggest #MeToo Cases Settles

One of China’s biggest #MeToo cases just settled in Minnesota, and both parties’ lawyers say the “misunderstanding” has consumed substantial public attention. In 2018, Chinese tech billionaire Liu Qiangdong was accused of rape by then 21-year-old student, Liu Jingyao. Known as China’s Jeff Bezos and founder of JD.com, Liu Qiangdong attended a global business program where Liu Jingyao was volunteering. Liu Jingyao alleged that after a group dinner with executives, she was followed to her apartment and raped by Liu Qiangdong. She has faced endless online shaming and blaming for her allegations, which the founder denied. On Saturday, just two days before trial was set to begin, they settled because the incident “has brought profound suffering” to them and their families.

10/6/2022

One of China’s Biggest #MeToo Cases Settles

One of China’s biggest #MeToo cases just settled in Minnesota, and both parties’ lawyers say the “misunderstanding” has consumed substantial public attention. In 2018, Chinese tech billionaire Liu Qiangdong was accused of rape by then 21-year-old student, Liu Jingyao. Known as China’s Jeff Bezos and founder of JD.com, Liu Qiangdong attended a global business program where Liu Jingyao was volunteering. Liu Jingyao alleged that after a group dinner with executives, she was followed to her apartment and raped by Liu Qiangdong. She has faced endless online shaming and blaming for her allegations, which the founder denied. On Saturday, just two days before trial was set to begin, they settled because the incident “has brought profound suffering” to them and their families.

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After 10 Years In Hiding, Salman Rushdie Stabbed On Stage

Salman Rushdie, author of ‘The Satanic Verses and ‘Midnight’s Children’’, is fighting life-changing injuries to his heart, liver, and eyes after being repeatedly stabbed on-stage while giving a lecture. While the suspect, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, was just indicted by a grand jury on Thursday August 18, he told the New York Post that his motivation came from Rushdie’sattacks on Islam and its beliefs. Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel left Muslims feeling outraged and that the book’s author was claiming verses of the Qur’an were “the work of the Devil”. ‘Satanic Verses’ is a phrase unknown to Muslims, and coined by Orientalist Western academics who were specializing in the study of cultures considered Eastern. Rushdie’s title immediately sparked protest because it refers to a legend about Prophet Muhammad that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims believe are fabricated by idolators. Rushdie’s book was also considered offensive because it portrayed weakness in the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslims felt that Rushdie was questioning Muhammad’s credibility as the messenger of God. The book was banned in many parts of the world, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini even issued a fatwa - or decree - calling for his death. Though the Iranian government has since separated itself from the fatwa, the price on Rushdie’s head recently increased to over $3M. For nearly a decade, the award-winning author went into hiding and lived under police protection, though in recent years became more lax about this, even venturing outside without bodyguard protection at times. Now, the outspoken defender of writers’ freedom of expression is living openly in New York, and once again at the center of free speech debate in literature.

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One of China’s Biggest #MeToo Cases Settles