Letters and Blogs

Self-defense is not mental disorder

It is not surprising that the beautiful Miss Deng Yujiao is pleased with the verdict giving her back her freedom. It is however a sorry day for Chinese justice!

By saying that the sentence was suspended in large part because of Miss Deng's mental disorder, the court has given the impression that ordinary citizens do not have the same right to self-defense. Surely the right to self-defense has nothing to do with one's general mental state but depends only upon the circumstances prevailing, i.e, being attacked?