"Got the Apology, So It's Fine"... Netizens Outraged at Chinese Father Who Hesitated Despite Seeing His Bloodied Daughter

Even After Seeing My Daughter Beaten by 7 Classmates
"Received an Apology, Will Not Hold Further Responsibility"

An elementary school student being assaulted by seven classmates.
[Photo by SCMP]

A father who said he would not hold the perpetrators responsible even after seeing his daughter beaten bloody by seven classmates is facing criticism from Chinese netizens.

On the 25th (local time), Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, "A man living in Shanxi Province, China, recently released a video showing his first-grade elementary school daughter being beaten by classmates, leaving her face covered in blood." In the released video, the child, with her front teeth missing and blood around her mouth, tearfully said, "I want to quit school. There are friends who bully and hit me."

What was even more shocking was the attitude of the man who posted the video. The man, the child's father, said, "After watching the CCTV footage later, it was similar to what my daughter said, but there was no direct evidence or scene capturing the moment her front teeth fell out." He added, "The relevant authorities and the school handled the matter very promptly. On the same day, the seven students who hurt my daughter apologized to her with their parents, and I have no intention of holding anyone else responsible."

He continued, "I believe that the responsibility for child-rearing mainly lies with the parents at home, and taking further legal action is meaningless. My daughter should continue attending school." Since children aged 7 to 8 are not held criminally responsible, legal measures are considered pointless. In China, the age of criminal responsibility is set at 16, and minors aged 12 or older are only held criminally responsible for serious crimes such as intentional murder or injury.

Local netizens criticized the man's remarks, saying he is "unfit to be a parent." They left comments such as, "Can you forgive after seeing that? He must not be the real father," "The daughter was beaten, so how can the father forgive and just let it go?" "If you are a parent, you can never stay silent," "Transfer your daughter to another school and hold the perpetrators accountable," "You are not a father," and "Just giving birth doesn't mean you deserve to be called a parent," expressing their anger.