China cracks down on striptease funerals
BEIJING - China may be giving striptease funerals the last rites
after officials arrested five people and ordered an end to the
practice, state media said.
Strip shows have been commonly used to attract more mourners to
funerals, as villagers believe a crowded send-off brings more honor
to the deceased, Xinhua news agency said.
But police took action after state television exposed the "obscene
performances" at a funeral in Donghai county, Jiangsu province,
with 200 people including children in attendance, it said.
"When the performance reached a climax, two performers started
stripping and to show their charm. They even dragged audiences onto
the stage to join them," Beijing News said, citing the television
report.
Wealthier families in villages often employ two troupes of
performers to try to draw a crowd at the funerals of their loved
ones.
After the television report, the local government quickly issued an
order to stop the practice and demanded that village committees
have to report details of each funeral plan within 12 hours after a
villager dies.
A hotline was also set up for residents to report on "funeral
misdeeds," it said. The funeral striptease is also a popular custom
in parts of Taiwan.
A hotline was also set up for residents to report on "funeral
misdeeds," it said. The funeral striptease is also a popular custom
inparts of Taiwan.