Discrimination Against a Chinese Student with Hemophilia

ČSH

The Chinese newspaper Global Times reported that the Beijing Institute of Industrial Relations expelled 21-year-old Zheng Qing from his studies on 6 January because he has hemophilia. The now-former student reportedly intends to sue the university for unjustified discrimination. The university defends itself by citing a Ministry of Education directive from 2003 that states students may be rejected due to serious blood diseases, metabolic disorders, or rheumatic conditions.

Zheng Qing (not his real name) was studying journalism, where hemophilia does not hinder him in any way. The student's legal representative stated that such a directive can only be applied when someone is unable to complete their studies or to take care of themselves.

"That is certainly not the case with my client, but the university has been putting constant pressure on him since September of last year," added lawyer Wang Qiushi, who represents the plaintiff before the district court in Beijing. However, it is not at all certain whether the court will take the lawsuit into consideration.

China has thus gained an infamous distinction, as no similar case has been recorded anywhere in the world. Hemophilia organizations from many countries around the globe have been protesting against the university's absurdly discriminatory actions to the Chinese authorities. The Czech Hemophilia Society and Hemojunior have also joined in and sent protest letters to the Chinese Embassy in Prague.

The Czech Hemophilia Society also joined the international protests and sent this letter to the Chinese Embassy.