Defamation suit from martyr’s descendant

• Source: Global Times
• [16:44 February 23 2010]
• Comments

By Zhao Yi

Zhao Yiman and her son. Photo: Xinhua

The descendant of a famous female martyr in China filed suit on February 20 at the Jing’an District People’s Court against a writer for allegedly embellishing his historical text. Shanghai Wenhui Publishing House, sina.com, netease.com and China.com are among the list of defendants.

Chen Hong, from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, claims that she is granddaughter of Zhao Yiman, who was killed by the Japanese in 1936 during World War II, and says that she possesses the Revolutionary Martyr Certificate awarded by Ministry of Civil Affairs.

According to Chen, Shi Gengli, author of the book Screenings and Memories published in July 2009 by Shanghai Wenhui Publishing House, describes Zhao’s suffering in vivid detail. Chen believes the content to be totally groundless, and is demanding a suspension of production and an apology.

Three historic archives are cited by the writer to support the description, including the martyr’s physiological reactions, and the credibility of the sources is now under question. The description is “too horrible and thrilling to be read,” according to Chen.

In August, sina.com, netease.com and China.com reprinted the relevant chapter from the book.

Shi Gengli, who is also dean of the Chinese Language Department of Shandong Heze College and a member of the Chinese Writers’ Association, was unavailable for comment.

An official at the court told the Global Times the case had been accepted but that it may take time to hear as the case involves several provinces.