back to article Chinese paper runs interview with Alibaba staffer who claims she was fired after exec rape claim

Chinese state-owned media has run an interview with a woman – identified only by her last name Zhou – who alleged she was fired after claiming one of the firm's execs raped her while on a business trip, according to an interview between Zhou and Dahe Daily. Zhou was allegedly sexually assaulted on a business trip by a superior …

  1. The Dogs Meevonks Silver badge

    I'm shocked... well, not actually shocked at all.

    A Chinese company, trampling over the rights of it's victims... well I'm shocked... actually not shocked at all.

    1. Potemkine! Silver badge

      Re: I'm shocked... well, not actually shocked at all.

      I would be surprised if this problem occurs in China only.

      Once again the only thing that helped the victim was giving bad PR. Before that, nobody gave a damn about her rights and the prejudice she suffered.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: I'm shocked... well, not actually shocked at all.

      The original Ali Baba was honest and was saved from the 40 thieves by his slave girl who married his son. I guess that in today's society there is a reverse takeover and the 40 new managers make sure that the girl doesn't marry Ali Baba Jr. and no one lives happily ever after.

    3. sabroni Silver badge
      Boffin

      Re: A Chinese company, trampling over the rights of it's victims...

      A company trampling over the rights of it's employees.

      FTFY, no need for the racism or to pretend they do this to random people.

      1. snowpages
        Headmaster

        Re: A Chinese company, trampling over the rights of it's victims...

        A company trampling over the rights of its employees.

        FTFY

    4. lglethal Silver badge
      Big Brother

      What I'm shocked about..

      What I'm shocked about is that this interview was actually carried by a State-Owned National Newspaper. That means the CCP backed this woman going public! Obviously Alibaba is in the bad books at the moment, but even so, that this will get any State media coverage is truly shocking!

      What next? Going after the Ex-VP for sexually assaulting the Tennis Star Peng Shuai?

      1. Jedit Silver badge
        Headmaster

        "I'm shocked that this interview was carried by a State-Owned National Newspaper"

        You shouldn't be. Alibaba's founder has recently been in prison and the Party are moving in to break up the company. This story is going to be part of their justification for doing so.

      2. batfink

        Re: What I'm shocked about..

        Hmm. Maybe the difference we're seeing is that the perp was an Alibaba manager and wasn't a party apparatchik. I strongly doubt any accusations against the latter would make it into the papers there.

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: What I'm shocked about..

        > That means the CCP backed this woman going public!

        Not shocking. I'm not going to defend the CCP, but things are not black and white.

        They take a similar approach to environmental regulation, by tolerating or quietly supporting pressure groups going against local / provincial authorities. As long as you don't criticise the CCP leadership itself, or touch certain other sensitive (and important) issues such as human rights, the rest appears to be fair game.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: What I'm shocked about..

          I wouldn't be surprised if there's internal disagreement in this case. Provincial prosecutors might have let the guy go more easily than the central government would have liked.

          1. W.S.Gosset

            Re: What I'm shocked about..

            Yes, I did a quick scout around and there's the strong smell of disorganised belatedly-central opportunism with a lot of uncertain hesitant go-reverse-go-reverse. This article by itself meta-suggests there's some strong to&fro arguing in the CCP: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1231455.shtml

  2. _LC_
    Holmes

    Hey, *psssst*!

    Hey, *psssst*! ¾ of all anchormen and company moguls in Germany have been accused (and proven) of rape and or “sexual misconduct”. I heard that it's mandatory to be a rapist in order to be eligible for presidency in the US. Let's point the finger at China, though. I'm sure that, unlike us, they can't handle things themselves!

    1. Warm Braw

      Re: Hey, *psssst*!

      In this case, it's China pointing the finger at China. And China doesn't do that unless it has a very compelling reason - which will have nothing to do with the alleged victim. I think that's sufficiently cynical in itself.

      1. _LC_

        Re: Hey, *psssst*!

        Right, because it has to be sinister. If a Chinese gives you confect, you're about to be poisoned!

        It's not like they have courts in China (*Haaaassangetshiiiie!*)...

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Pictures.

    Or it didn't happen. That is my position, yours is bent over a bar stool.

  4. Chris G

    Self defence

    I find the notion of offering self defence classes to women not only disgusting when it is the perpetrators who need education but also a sign of ignorance from the management who suggested it.

    Aa a former instructor of martial arts, I have taught plenty of female students as well as running specific defence classes for girls and women. Many students I have spoken to have told me that learning the techniques is less difficult than overcoming an instinct to freeze when attacked or assaulted in a real situation.

    I don't know if this is a defensive reaction to avoid aggravating an assailant or simply fear but it seems it does happen even to females with higher grades in their art, ultimately it is the assailant who is at fault and if a victim for whatever reason is unable to resist, it should mot reflect on them (as has happened more than omce in Spanish and probably other courts).

    1. _LC_

      Re: Self defence

      In those situations it doesn't make much sense, as you stated. They do not necessarily need to be physically forced, when their career can be ended by the perpetrator.

  5. thejoelr

    Change the culture.

    This company culture that pushes employees to drink heavily with managers is just something that needs to change. It is far too common, and nothing good comes of it except enjoying some person getting trashed and laughing at them or worse.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    That Blade Runner moment

    When an article in Chinese is casually linked to and commented on by the register reminds me of Harrison Ford ordering a hot dog at the stand.

    I've known for years I should have studied Chinese, hopefully it's not too late yet. At least I'd be able to read the bug trackers of much of the code I use. :)

  7. Rustbucket

    Meanwhile . . .

    That female tennis player that accused a high communist official of sexual assault has never been seen again.

  8. jollyboyspecial Silver badge

    If this has made it to state owned media framed in these terms then it looks like the state is not overly impressed by the way Alibaba has handled this. And I think you could probably infer that the state is not impressed by the actions of the local court either.

    This is very unusual in China. Normally Zhou could expect the state owned media to attack her, but in this case they seem to be taking her side. So the question is why?

    Is somebody out to bring down Alibaba or at least some of it's executives? Or is it perhaps more subtly that the state has decided to champion this particular case in the hopes of distracting attention away from other similar cases? "Look we're doing the right thing is this case so all those other women must be liars."

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