China probes top Buddhist leader for sexual assault
BEIJING: The former head of China’s government- run Buddhist association is under criminal investigation for alleged sexual assault, the country’s top religious authority said yesterday.
Xuecheng, a Communist Party member and abbot of Beijing’s Longquan Monastery, is one of the most prominent figures to face accusations in China’s growing # MeToo movement.
He stepped down earlier this month after a report by fellow monks accused him of sexual and financial improprieties.
In the 95- page report that circulated online late last month, two monks accused Xuecheng of sending explicit text messages to at least six women, threatening or cajoling them to have sex with him, claiming it was a part of their Buddhist studies.
The National Religious Affairs Authority said it had confirmed Xuecheng had sent ‘ harassing messages’, adding that authorities had begun a criminal investigation into the report’s charges of sexual assault.
Investigators had also uncovered evidence that the Longquan Monastery had violated national financial regulations, it added in a statement on its web site.
Xuecheng, 51, stepped down at a meeting of the Buddhist Association of China earlier this month following the allegations.
The abbot is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a top advisory board.
A prominent personality in Chinese Buddhist life with a social media following of millions, Xuecheng’s Weibo account has been silent since Aug 1, when he posted a statement rejecting allegations of sexual misconduct.
In their report, the two monks, who are no longer members of the monastery, said four women gave in to Xuecheng’s demands.
One of the authors said on social media that he was compelled to speak out after the victims were ignored by authorities who said they could not investigate the matter. — AFP