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7NEWS
4 days ago
- 7NEWS
Why do we obsess over serial killers but tune out war crimes?
It is often said that an average person unknowingly walks past 36 murderers in their lifetime — a chilling statistic that fuels Reddit threads, true crime podcasts, and Netflix documentaries. From the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, society has developed a near-obsessive fascination with serial killers. But while these individual criminals captivate millions, mass atrocities and war crimes — such as Israel's devastating war in Gaza, the civil war in Syria, the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Myanmar, the mass internment of Uyghur Muslims in China, or the ongoing violence in Sudan's Darfur region — often receive far less emotional engagement from the public. So why does a single killer enthrall us more than state-sanctioned violence that claims thousands of lives? University of Sydney criminologist Helen Easton the says the answer lies in cultural proximity and perceived relatability, not just of the killer but of the victims too. 'Part of our culture' 'We tend to be fascinated by serial killers who are part of our culture,' Easton told It feels close to home because victims of serial killings are people who live in the same cities and cultures as us. 'There's this idea of proximity, they feel close to us. They might look like us, live where we live, or share our language.' Easton said victims of serial killers — particularly when perceived as 'random' or middle-class — generate public empathy. In contrast, victims of war crimes in distant or less culturally familiar regions often do not. 'There's a subconscious way we categorise people's value. In the case of the Rwandan genocide or violence in parts of Africa, there's often a language and cultural barrier that distances us,' she said. Easton said with Palestine and Israel, the engagement is higher because of Israel's connection with the western world and strong ties with the US but, even then, it lacks the sense of sensationalised focus we see with serial killers. Even fewer people know or are interested in learning about what's going on in Sudan. But serial killers such as Bundy and Dahmer — whose crimes sprees rocked suburban America in the 1970s — continue to fascinate even years after their deaths and captivate the public through documentaries, books, and movies. Bundy kidnapped, raped and killed dozens of young females — many of them students he abducted from their homes., college campuses or from public places by pretending he needed help — across Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Florida from 1974 to 1978. Serial killer and sex offender Dahmer — known as the Milwaukee Cannibal — killed and dismembered 17 young males from 1978 to 1991, with many of his horrendous crimes taking place inside his suburban home. The enduring interest in both those cases compares with UK serial killer Steve Wright, whose five victims in 2006 were sex workers. Easton's own research into Wright, who was convicted in 2008, underscores this selective attention — saying in many cases, it is the worth of the victim rather than the brutality of the crimes that shapes public interest. 'He fits the definition of a serial killer but there was no morbid fascination,' Easton said. 'That tells us something, we care about who the victim is. Prostituted women are seen as vulnerable and society often blames them for their victimisation.' This phenomenon also extends to how justice is pursued. Serial killers, who often lack social or political power, are easier targets for legal accountability. War criminals, on the other hand, are frequently shielded by political and economic interests. 'Serial killers tend not to be powerful people,' Easton explains. 'War criminals often are, and that structural power protects them. While a serial killer may have power over their victims, they don't have power in the broader sociopolitical system.' Psychological fatigue is also something to consider, Easton says. The scale and horror of genocide and war can be emotionally overwhelming, causing many people to disengage. In contrast, serial killers offer narratives that are both terrifying and digestible — and sometimes hit close to home. 'We get fatigued hearing about war and genocide, it's so horrific that I think that we can't grasp it,' Easton said. 'Serial killers are close to us, they're culturally similar to us, physically, perhaps in the same countries, but they're also distant enough from us for us to be interested in them. The chance of being killed by a serial killer is very low.' Despite the disturbing nature of serial killings, many reports on them are packaged for entertainment — from bingeable documentaries to Halloween costumes. Meanwhile, ongoing conflicts involving mass suffering are frequently reduced to headlines or statistics or buried in global news cycles. These media trends reveal deeper truths about our collective empathy and its limitations.
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Harvard University's 'Links' To China, Iran Triggers US National Security Concerns
Washington DC: As the US government's crackdown on Harvard University intensifies, links to China and Iran have emerged, raising national security concerns in the United States. The premier university is being investigated by the House Select Committee on China as well as the House Committee on Education and Workforce for its links to groups affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and research groups being aided by Iran. Harvard University is facing charges of partnering with foreign adversaries and collaborating with entities implicated in human rights abuses. The charges are grave. A letter by has been sent by the House committees to Harvard University and its President Alan Garber seeking transparency and accountability over its "partnerships and activities that raise serious national security and ethical concerns". CHINA AND IRAN LINKS Some of the concerns listed in the letter include: Harvard University's collaboration with Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps or XPCC, wherein the Ivy league university would "train and prepare" members of the XPCC - a US-sanctioned paramilitary group that "plays a central role in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide of Uyghur Muslims". Harvard hosted the XPCC at least four times after the US government had sanctioned the paramilitary group over its "genocide against Uyghurs". Harvard University's research wing, funded by the US Department of Defence, forging partnerships with "Chinese military-linked universities, including Tsinghua, Zhejiang, and Huazhong Universities" without consent of the US government. The ongoing joint investigation has revealed that "China's Tsinghua University actively conducts defense research for China's People's Liberation Army and has been implicated in cyber-attacks against the United States." It also found that Zhejiang University has been involved in "economic and cyber espionage" against the US, while Huazhong University, with which Harvard worked on projects based on artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and quantum science, has close ties to China's PLA. Harvard University's collaborations with "Iranian-government-funded researchers" working directly with Tehran. This includes projects "financed by the Iranian National Science Foundation", whose primary focus is on funding scientific research and development across various fields, including nuclear technology. Harvard University's tie-ups with "organ transplantation research involving China-based collaborators". This comes amid "mounting evidence of the Chinese Communist Party's forced organ harvesting practices". WHAT THE INVESTIGATING TEAM SAID In the letter to Harvard President, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar wrote, "Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime." "These are not isolated incidents - they represent a disturbing pattern that puts U.S. national security at risk. The Select Committee's investigation will deliver answers, expose the truth, and hold Harvard accountable to the American people," the Republican Congressman added. Tim Walburg, Chairperson of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, wrote, "No American university or college should be assisting the Chinese Communist Party in expanding its influence, oppressing American citizens, or undermining US national security. Unfortunately, we have found several instances in which Harvard University aided and even collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party – including helping Chinese researchers on military projects funded by the Iranian government. This is unacceptable and Harvard President Garber needs to provide answers to Congress for this colossal failure." Harvard University has been given till June 2, 2025 to submit all internal documents, communications, and testimonies from Harvard officials who have been made part of the investigation. ACTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY The US Department of Homeland Security has also stepped in, stopping the enrollment of foreign students and student exchange programmes at Harvard University due to its "pro-terrorist conduct". A statement by the Department of Homeland Security said, "Harvard is being held accountable for collaboration with the CCP, fostering violence, antisemitism, and pro-terrorist conduct from students on its campus." It further stated that "Harvard's leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment." The US Government is "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus," said Secretary Kristi Noem. WHAT HARVARD UNIVERSITY SAID Meanwhile, Harvard University has called the US Government's move to ban foreign students as "unlawful". In a statement, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said, "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University - and this nation - immeasurably. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission." The Ivy league university however, has not said anything about the charges it faces about its links to China, its military, the Iranian government, and what the Homeland Security labelled "pro-terrorist conduct".
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
One of Seven: Sen. Cotton Highlights China's Calculated Approach to Religious Persecution
Commentary Sen. Tom Cotton's (R-Ark.) latest book, 'Seven Things You Can't Say About China,' rips back the curtain on the Chinese Communist Party's persistent influence and ongoing efforts to suppress political, economic, and social freedoms. While much of the global conversation surrounding China focuses on trade and military expansion, a critical and often overlooked aspect of Beijing's authoritarianism is its systematic persecution of religious groups. China's efforts are no longer confined to traditional methods of censorship and intimidation; it has expanded into a sophisticated network of surveillance technology and economic coercion, aiding its efforts to silence dissent both at home and abroad. A State-Controlled Faith: China's War on Religious Freedom China does not abide religious independence. Instead, it allows for only For Christians, the control is In regions like Xinjiang, the persecution is even more extreme. Uyghur Muslims face mass detentions, forced labor, and ideological indoctrination, all aimed at These attacks are particularly disheartening when we consider that, in a country of 1.4 billion people, fewer than 25 percent adhere to any religion. Technology as a Weapon of Suppression China is perfecting its persecution of religious groups. No longer simply about physical oppression, it now harnesses the world's most advanced Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/22/2025 The Meanwhile, digital censorship ensures that religious discourse remains firmly under state control. Religious websites, online sermons, and digital faith communities must receive government approval to exist. Chinese authorities routinely shut down platforms that distribute religious materials, ensuring that spiritual teachings remain inaccessible outside of state-sanctioned institutions. Furthermore, The Economic Side of Religious Persecution China's war on faith is firmly nested in its global economic strategy. Forced labor involving religious minorities—particularly Uyghurs—has created an Beyond forced labor, China has leveraged economic dependency to Even in the United States and other Western countries, China exploits economic retaliations to silence dissent. Corporations that criticize Beijing's human rights record frequently face trade restrictions or are blocked from the Chinese market. What Comes Next? While the United States has responded with Internationally, China's export of surveillance technology to authoritarian regimes raises deeper concerns. Many governments have purchased Chinese facial recognition systems, signaling a growing trend where The Future of Religious Freedom in China Under Xi Jinping's leadership, China's religious persecution has evolved into a multi-dimensional strategy, combining state control, economic leverage, and technological suppression to dismantle independent faith communities. The question now is whether Western nations will move beyond rhetoric to take tangible steps in response. Economic policy, diplomatic alliances, and counter-surveillance measures will determine whether Beijing's war on religious freedom continues unchallenged—or whether global pressure forces a reckoning. For now, Cotton's book highlights an uncomfortable truth: China's human rights abuses are not isolated incidents—they are a calculated strategy designed to reshape global governance. And unless the world takes action, the consequences will extend far beyond China's borders. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Malaysia Sun
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
World Uyghur Congress welcomes MAPIM's strong appeal to ASEAN on Uyghur rights
Munich [Germany] May 22 (ANI): The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has expressed support for the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (MAPIM), which has urged ASEAN leaders to take strong action regarding serious human rights violations against the Uyghurs. This appeal was made before the ASEAN Summit 2025, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, as announced by WUC on X. MAPIM has called on all ASEAN representatives to prioritise the Uyghur crisis in the summit discussions and to adhere to the principles of justice and human rights as specified in international law. The organisation noted that both groups face systematic oppression that may amount to crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The statement pointed out numerous reports of arbitrary detention, torture, forced labour, and cultural erasure targeting the Uyghur population, as highlighted in the MAPIM release. In his remarks, MAPIM President Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid emphasised that ASEAN cannot stay silent in light of such atrocities. He urged the regional group to issue a unified statement condemning these violations, take diplomatic and legal measures to ensure accountability, and strive for sustainable solutions that safeguard the right to life, dignity, and identities of the affected communities, according to MAPIM release. The World Uyghur Congress stressed that a principled approach rooted in rights by ASEAN is essential for justice, regional credibility, and the safeguarding of minority communities, according to WUC's shared post on X. For years, Uyghur Muslims have endured harsh repression by China, characterised by systemic human rights violations and cultural erasure. The Chinese government's oppression of Uyghur Muslims includes extensive surveillance, arbitrary detention in 'reeducation' camps, forced labour, and attempts to eliminate religious and cultural identity. The Chinese authorities deny these abuses, framing their actions as anti-terrorism efforts. International organisations and human rights advocates have condemned these policies as crimes against humanity and potentially genocidal. (ANI)
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
House Republicans probe Harvard's connections to China
Stefanik, who represents New York's 21st congressional district, had a leading role in the 2023 congressional hearings over antisemitism on college campuses, where The House members also accuse the university of using Department of Defense funding 'to partner with China-based academics on research with potential military applications,' according to the letter. Advertisement The lawmakers requested 'information regarding the safeguards Harvard places around research collaborations related to organ transplantation' when the research involves China-based scholars. A Harvard spokesperson confirmed the university received the letter and will respond but did not comment further. In an interview on Fox Business that Stefanik Advertisement 'This is one of the reasons why [Education] Secretary [Linda] McMahon's actions to defund and pull back those federal dollars is so incredibly important,' she said. 'This is a national security risk for our country and for our next generation of students.' McMahon issued a letter to Harvard earlier this month that said In a statement announcing the inquiry, Stefanik and her colleagues allege that Harvard held 'repeated training' of members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which they said is a 'U.S.-sanctioned paramilitary group that plays a central role in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide of Uyghur Muslims.' They claim Harvard engaged in research partnerships funded by the Department of Defense with 'Chinese military-linked universities, including Tsinghua, Zhejiang, and Huazhong Universities,' according to the statement. They allege Harvard also engaged in collaborations with 'Iranian-government-funded researchers, including projects financed by the Iranian National Science Foundation' and conducted 'organ transplantation research' involving China-based collaborators 'amid mounting evidence of the CCP's forced organ harvesting practices.' The lawmakers set a June 2 deadline for Harvard to respond with the requested materials. Harvard, the nation's oldest and wealthiest university, has been locked in a bitter battle with the Trump administration, which is using legal threats and funding cuts to force the school to yield to Trump's agenda. Officials have accused Harvard of cultivating an academic environment that is rigidly leftist and intolerant of conservative viewpoints and which creates a breeding ground for antisemitism. Advertisement Nick Stoico can be reached at
