Desperate for justice, a 77-year old woman knelt naked in front of a Shanghai courthouse on August 18 to protest the demolition of her home. The scene was filmed and has since gone viral online.

As a result of massive urban renewal programmes, forced evictions are frequent in China. These have infuriated home owners, who are often given only a few days’ notice before being thrown out of their homes. The so-called compensation is also far below the market rate.

This was the second time Zhuang Jinghui, a former doctor, stripped naked outside her district courthouse – but it was the first time her protest was caught on camera. Jinghui spoke to the Observers to explain why she took such a drastic measure.