New child abuse case goes viral on Chinese social media

Pictures showing strings of scars on the back of a ten-year-old schoolboy from Guangdong province whipped by his step-mother fanned public anger over the country’s ignorance about child abuse on social media.

A microblogger who identified herself as Luxixi posted four photos late last night showing apparent bruises and scars left by lashes on the back, arms and legs of a ten-year-old boy.

“Binbin is in Grade 3. His teacher discovered fresh bruises every time he attended her class. He told the teacher his step-mother whipped him with hangers and wooden sticks several times a week,” the microblogger posted. “Does she deserve to be called a mother?”

The photos were reposted over 40,000 times and amassed over 17,000 comments within hours.

“Time will not heal the wounds on his heart,” one microblogger from Guangdong commented.

“Our country needs to roll out new laws to protect children from abuse,” an engineer from Sichuan province wrote.