A woman in China claims she was arrested and interrogated by police after she was spotted wearing a white kimono taking pictures in Suzhou, China.
The woman posted about the alleged incident on Weibo. She had cosplayed as the main character in the Japanese manga series Summer Time Rendering, for which she wore a white kimono with flowers and a long blonde wig.
On Wednesday night, while waiting in line for a snack with their photographer, the two were suddenly surrounded by police officers on Huaihai Street, a food strip popular for Japanese bars and restaurants, according to the woman.
In a video allegedly showing her encounter with officers, an officer yells at the woman, questioning her identity.
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“If you come here with Hanfu, I wouldn’t say that. But as a Chinese, you wear a kimono. You are Chinese! Are you?” The officer yells at the woman.
She then calmly asks why she is surrounded by officers.
“On suspicion of starting a fight and provoking trouble,” the officer replies.
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The woman is then escorted by the police.
According to the Weibo post, the woman explained that she was interrogated for about five hours until 1 a.m. During this time, she stated that her phone was allegedly searched, her photos deleted and her kimono confiscated. She was also “taught” by officials and warned against speaking about her experiences on the internet.
The woman stated that police instructed her to write a 500-word letter of self-criticism and reflection.
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“I feel like I have no dignity right now,” the woman wrote in a Qzone post on Friday. “The police said what I did was wrong. I feel powerless… I like Japanese culture, European culture, and I also like traditional Chinese culture. I like multiculturalism, I like watching anime, is it wrong that I like anything?”
The story goes on
Some Weibo users supported the woman, while others criticized her for wearing a kimono.
“This cop is abusing his power and needs treatment,” wrote one user.
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“We have no reason to choose the forgiveness of our ancestors. Well done Chinese police!” Another user commented.
The video has garnered over 8.7 million views and 497,000 likes since it was uploaded on Monday.
Featured image via Weibo