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A reduced prison term given to a convicted rapist in Jiangxi province in August has created public backlash over Chinese courts mitigating punishments based on “forgiveness.”
Though rape is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison， or more in severe cases， the defendant， surnamed Ouyang， was sentenced to just four years after paying 30，000 RMB and obtaining “forgiveness” from the family of his 17-year-old victim. Chinese law allows defendants to seek “reconciliation” with their victims by offering financial compensation or an apology.
Forgiveness has factored into reduced punishment for a man who raped his 11-year-old niece in 2015 and a son who beat his father to death in an argument in 2016， among other recent cases. Critics point out that forgiveness often comes from the victims’ families rather than the victims themselves， and favors offenders who can pay. “When will payment and punishment stop being in conflict under our laws？” sighed one Weibo comment on the Jiangxi case.– HATTY LIU
Though rape is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison， or more in severe cases， the defendant， surnamed Ouyang， was sentenced to just four years after paying 30，000 RMB and obtaining “forgiveness” from the family of his 17-year-old victim. Chinese law allows defendants to seek “reconciliation” with their victims by offering financial compensation or an apology.
Forgiveness has factored into reduced punishment for a man who raped his 11-year-old niece in 2015 and a son who beat his father to death in an argument in 2016， among other recent cases. Critics point out that forgiveness often comes from the victims’ families rather than the victims themselves， and favors offenders who can pay. “When will payment and punishment stop being in conflict under our laws？” sighed one Weibo comment on the Jiangxi case.– HATTY LIU