Coronavirus: man detained after posting meme of dog wearing police hat to protest against Covid-19 restrictions

The man was informed on by another local who saw the meme, whistleblowing is common in China

The crime of ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’ is broad and vaguely defined and is often used to stifle dissent

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The meme was posted on social media where it was seen by members of a chat group. Photo: SCMP artwork

Published: 9:45am, 4 Nov 2021Updated: 1:43pm, 4 Nov 2021

A Chinese man was detained for nine days for allegedly insulting police after posting a meme of a dog wearing a police hat on social media.

The man, surnamed Li, posted the meme in a chat group on WeChat after expressing his anger over strict coronavirus control measures in Qingtongxia, a city in the northwestern Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Local police told the Chutian Metropolis News that Li’s action was the crime of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, a broad and vaguely worded law that is often used to silence any criticism of the authorities.

“The current coronavirus situation is serious. This resident’s behaviour is an insult to the work of the police,” an officer was quoted as saying.

A man unhappy with Covid-19 control measures sent a meme of a dog wearing a police hat on WeChat and was detained for nine days by police. Photo: Handout

When a person in the group of 300 members asked Li to withdraw the meme, he refused, the report said.

He was reportedly informed on by another local resident leading to his detention late last month.