Why Are Chinese Netizens Calling Li Wenliang A Martyr?
With over 560 dead and more than 28,000 infected, novel coronavirus infection is really a pandemic. But one of the dead persons include a doctor who was the among the first to warn the public about the outbreak and its severity.
Li Wenliang
An ophthalmologist by profession, Li was working in Wuhan Central Hospital in Hubei province that was the epicentre of the outbreak. He observed symptoms of the deadly SAARS virus in the early patients visiting the hospital. And the 34-year old doctor lost no time in understanding that there was another outbreak of virus. He sent alert messages his friends on December 30 but was later summoned for “rumour-mongering” along with other whistle-blowers.
China mourns death of Li Wenliang
The hospital where Li worked made a statement after his death. The statement read that the doctor got infection while treating other patients. And that he breathed his last on February 7. The hospital tried its best to save a valuable life but he couldn’t be saved.
People reacted to Li’s death
Li was summoned along with others for “rumour-mongering” and later he was made to sign a statement where he admitted making false comments that disturbed the social media. Chinese Supreme Court also said that Li was treated inappropriately by the authorities.
The netizens hailed Li as a martyr. He was a hero for Chinese people as he tried to save them from the outbreak. His death sparked an outrage among the people who blamed the authorities for hiding the truth about the outbreak.
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