A reporter covering an international meeting hosted by China’s Communist Party has accused the Vice President of Algerian parliament of sexual harassment.
AFP’s China correspondent Joanna Chiu attended the event where hundreds of political leaders from around the world came to Beijing to recognize Xi Jinping’s contributions to the global prosperity.
On a Twitter post, Chiu recounted how People’s National Assembly of Algeria vice president Mohammed Moussaoudja told her during a meeting on Saturday, “I want to marry you to my colleague.”
I’m covering a CPC meeting with world political parties and this delegate from #Algeria says, “I want to marry you to my colleague.” I give death glare and he says, “It’s a joke!” As I leave after chewing them out, another delegate rests his hand on my lower back. WTF. pic.twitter.com/ouBsoKE6rX
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) December 3, 2017
Chiu said she responded with a “death glare.” When Moussaoudja claimed that he was just “joking,” Chiu took out her camera and started taking photos.
It was the vice-president of the Algerian parliament. His staff said I “overreacted” and “don’t understand” their culture. He was trying to “give me a compliment.” And yes I’m an accredited journalist and can report and take photos. https://t.co/682yAC4gd4
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) December 3, 2017
Another delegate even placed his hand on her lower back as she made her exit.
To add insult to the offense, Moussaoudja’s staff told her that the politician was merely giving her a “compliment”. Her “overreaction” was because she failed to understand Algerian culture.
After an Algerian politician “joked” about “marrying me off” to his colleague, I’ve received kind comments from unimpressed people in #Algeria, including @naimaabb who shared her experiences of frequent sexual harassment in her country. Thank you. #metoo https://t.co/WfqKMSQ4fr
— Joanna Chiu 趙淇欣 (@joannachiu) December 4, 2017
The Hong Kong-born reporter, who grew up in Canada, said that her Twitter post has encouraged responses from Algerian women who revealed that in their country, they frequently deal with such kind of sexual harassment.
It s like I ve to think twice what to wear to go somewhere. I ll always prefer to drive instead of wqlking or taking the bus just not to be harrassed. I lived 3 assaults ( 2 taken to the court ) in 6 years… so u can imagine that I m fed up with this
— NaïmaA2b (@naimaabb) December 4, 2017
Feature image via Twitter/joannachiu
