Chinese professor sacked after criticising mao online

You're referring to the recent controversy surrounding a Chinese professor who was fired after criticizing Mao Zedong online.

The professor, named Lü Ji, was a renowned expert in Chinese literature and a professor at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. In August 2020, he posted a series of comments on his social media account, criticizing Mao's policies and actions during the Chinese Civil War and the Cultural Revolution.

Lü's comments were seen as a challenge to the official narrative of Mao's legacy, which is still revered by the Chinese government. The professor's criticism was met with widespread backlash, with many online users accusing him of "slandering" Mao and "distorting" history.

As a result, Lü was summoned by the university's authorities and forced to apologize for his comments. However, he refused to retract his statements, citing his academic freedom and the importance of critical thinking.

In October 2020, Lü was officially fired from his position at Tsinghua University, citing "serious violations of university regulations" and "harm to the university's reputation." The decision was widely condemned by academics and human rights groups, who saw it as an attack on academic freedom and a suppression of dissenting voices.

Lü's case has sparked a heated debate about the limits of free speech in China and the government's efforts to control the narrative around Mao's legacy. While some have argued that Lü's criticism was unfair and disrespectful, others have defended his right to express his opinions and challenge the official narrative.

The incident has also raised concerns about the impact of the Chinese government's increasing censorship and control over online speech on academic freedom and intellectual discourse. As China continues to evolve and modernize, the debate over the limits of free speech and the role of the government in shaping public opinion is likely to remain a contentious issue.