Man Beats Wife To Death As People Watch, Viral Video Sparks Outrage

More often than not, people’s insensitive response to blatant violence and their diffused responsibility as onlookers stem from apathy and fear. A recent video that’s been going viral on social media bears testimony to the same.

The video footage shows a man beating his wife to death as passers-by watch the assault without any attempt to stop the violence.

The incident purportedly happened in China's Shuozhou city. The video has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the rampant domestic violence in Chinese households. The pictures and videos of the assault first appeared on social media on Sunday, and were shared millions of times.

The tragic incident happened after the couple accidentally hit a vehicle while traveling on their electric scooter in Shuozhou city, reported Reuters. Following the accident, an argument ensued between the couple and it soon escalated into a violent attack as the man started beating his wife.

The woman was killed in the incident, said police reports. The police also confirmed that the man was detained after the incident

“Many people looked on and filmed (the assault), yet nobody stopped him," a person commented on his Twitter account as he shared the video of the incident. Some people also described the inaction and apathy from the onlookers as "shocking."

The video footage clearly shows pedestrians, cyclists and other passers-by watching the violence without interfering. The incident has triggered social media discussions about the “bystander problem” and people's apathy.

A similar incident happened in China in 2011, when a 2-year-old girl was run over by two vehicles and left ignored in the street, reported The Washington Post. The girl was left to die as passers-by and motorists steered their vehicles around her body. The severely injured toddler was finally pulled to the side of the road by an old woman who was scavenging the road.

In 2016, Domestic Violence Law was passed in China after several years of struggle from China’s women’s rights activists. The law aims to create better protection to the victims through protection orders and a written warning system. However, a rising number of such incidents are raising concerns about the efficiency of the new law.

Under the new law, domestic violence is considered as a civil violation and not a criminal offense. Marital rape is still not illegal in China.