According to an article in Asahi Shimbun, a Chinese court has sentenced journalist Huang Xueqin, a prominent figure in the country's nascent #MeToo movement, to five years in prison for the charge of incitement to subvert state authority. This verdict, along with a significant fine of 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000), underscores the Chinese government's intolerance toward activism outside its control, particularly within a system where the upper echelons remain dominated by men.

According to supporters, Huang's release date is set for September 18, 2026, accounting for her earlier detention in September 2021, just a day before she was scheduled to commence a master's degree program on gender violence and conflict at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

The verdict against #HuangXueqin dealt a harsh blow to #MeToo movement in #China. It's Chinese gov's latest assault on defenders advocating for women's equal rights, fighting sexual harassment & violence against women. https://t.co/WLuUWxCpFU

— Renee Xia (@ReneeXiaCHRD) June 14, 2024

Her co-defendant, Wang Jianbing, an activist known for his labor rights advocacy who also assisted women in reporting instances of sexual harassment, received a sentence of three years and six months on the same charge.

Huang played a pivotal role in sparking China's first high-profile #MeToo case in 2018 when she publicized allegations of sexual harassment made by a graduate student against her PhD supervisor at one of the country's most prestigious universities.

Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International's China Director, condemned Huang's conviction, stating, "These convictions will prolong their deeply unjust detention and have a further chilling effect on human rights and social advocacy in a country where activists face increasing state crackdowns. In reality, they have committed no actual crime. Instead, the Chinese government has fabricated excuses to deem their work a threat, and to target them for educating themselves and others about social justice issues such as women's dignity and workers' rights."

The #MeToo movement in China initially gained traction but was promptly suppressed by the government's crackdown on dissent. Huang and Wang's cases seem intertwined with the broader wave of repression against rights advocates, which predates the #MeToo movement and includes previous incidents such as the 2015 detentions of women distributing pamphlets against sexual harassment on public transport.

In 2022 @IndexCensorship gave our Freedom of Expression in journalism award to Sophia Huang Xueqin. Here's the video that accompanied the award. A little glimpse into how remarkable she is. She must be freed, as must Wang Jianbing, also sentenced today https://t.co/fOxTLcmWo0

— Jemimah Steinfeld (@JFSteinfeld) June 14, 2024

The post Chinese journalist sent to 5 years for #MeToo advocacy appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed a defamation lawsuit on Wednesday against protest activist Gonen Ben Itzhak and journalists Ben Caspit and Uri Misgav.

The lawsuit comes after Ben Itzhak, the primary defendant, and Misgav published claims regarding the prime minister's health. Ben Itzhak claimed that Netanyahu is suffering from pancreatic cancer, while Misgav made more general assertions about his health condition, stating that he is in poor health, which affects his functioning.

Some three weeks ago, Ben Itzhak posted on his X account, claiming to have been informed of the prime minister's medical condition: "Following your visit last night to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, I received information that you were treated for pancreatic cancer. I wish you good health, but it is appropriate for the man who leads the system to courageously face the public and disclose his true condition. You are sending our children to war, and if you are indeed undergoing oncological treatment, there are grave implications. Your health, in this sense, is not a private or personal matter. Reveal the truth about your condition to the public now."

Netanyahu accuses Misgav of making false insinuations about his health condition. Throughout the war period, Misgav published a series of posts related to Netanyahu's health, including: "Grandpa, why is your complexion yellowish-greenish, and your eyes watery? You're speaking unusually fast and not at a natural pace – what medications are you taking?" Additionally, Misgav claimed that Netanyahu was secretly treated for hours at the Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak.

Regarding Caspit, Netanyahu accuses the journalist of fabricating a story about a meeting between him and reserve Major General Amiram Levin, from which Levin allegedly emerged horrified and shaken, according to Caspit's account.

The lawsuit demands half a million shekels ($135 USD) in damages from the defendants. It also seeks court orders prohibiting the dissemination of false claims and compelling the defendants to publish a retraction of their statements.

The post Netanyahu files defamation suit, denies cancer rumors appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Right-wing lawmakers expressed outrage Monday after left-wing activist Haim Shadmi sought weapons for civilians to protect Palestinians in Judea and Samaria against alleged settler violence.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Addressing Knesset members, Shadmi said: "Give us the permission to use weapons. We'll do the work for the Palestinians. We won't hurt anyone. If you're not capable of doing the job, we'll save lives."

The remarks were made during the highly controversial "Stop Settler Violence" conference that was organized by MKs Mossi Raz (Meretz), Osama Saadi (Joint List), and Ibtisam Mara'ana (Labor) as well as the left-wing groups Breaking the Silence, Yesh Din and Peace Now. The Religious Zionist Party had unsuccessfully tried to get the event canceled.

"A red line was crossed today," Yesha Council chairman David Elhayani said with regard to Shadmi's comments. "A man was given the authority to incite terrorism in the Knesset against Jews. We call on Knesset members and ministers to condemn the incident and ensure that such conferences no longer receive a stage in the Knesset."

Interrupting the conference, MK Itamar Ben Gvir exclaimed, "Why talk about violence and not mention the murder that occurred yesterday? There is no mention of violence against settlers, soldiers, police officers."

Ben Gvir was referring to Sunday's terrorist attack, in which Hamas terrorist Fadi Abu Shahidam wounded four people and killed 26-year-old Eliyahu David Kay, a recent immigrant from South Africa.

Similarly, Shai Glick, CEO of Jewish rights group Betsalmo, filed a police complaint against Shadmi, saying his "remarks are clear incitement to violence and danger to human life. There is no doubt that as long as there are weapons in Shadmi and his friends' hands, there may be harm caused to the lives of the area's Jewish and Arab residents. We have all learned that words can kill.

"The true face of the extreme Left has been revealed. They speak of brotherhood, coexistence, and peace, but act with hatred. Had Shadmi been a rightist, he would have already been arrested."

Organizers of the "Stop Settler Violence" conference said: "We were pleased to see all Knesset members, ministers, organizations, and activists who participated in the conference against the raging settler violence as law enforcement turns a blind eye.

"The remarks made at the end of the conference by Haim Shadmi do not represent our stance in supporting a non-violent struggle and calling for ending the occupation peacefully.

"If only those who rushed to oppose his words had done the same when settlers used severe violent means against Palestinians and Israelis in recent weeks."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Right fumes as left-wing activist seeks weapons 'to protect Palestinians' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

According to the London-based Alaraby news website, the two were apprehended by Lebanese state security. Bandar was released on Saturday but Kinda remains in custody.

   Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter 

Her whereabouts are currently unknown.

Hours before being arrest, Khatib, 23, posted anti-Hezbollah comments on social media, including a tweet criticizing Lebanese President Michel Aoun, a staunch supporter of the Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist group, which all but controls the Lebanese parliament.

An unnamed security official told Beirut's Al-Akhbar daily that she was suspected of allegedly spying for Israel and entering Palestinian territories.

"The arrest was based on evidence from the General Security [Service] that proves her involvement in contact with people inside Israel," he said, adding there was evidence that Khatib "provided information to the Israelis, as well as entered Israel during a recent trip to Jordan."

Her family told Alaraby that the accusations against her are fabricated.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories

The post Anti-Hezbollah activist accused of spying for Israel appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.