Fatima Mayte Zavala, a 13-year-old teenager, suffered a severe attack when she was pushed from a third floor in her school in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City. Witnesses indicate that this act of violence was motivated simply because she liked K-pop, and one of her classmates bullied her for it. This incident has generated an outpouring of outrage and condemnation, with the South Korean embassy in Mexico being the first to express its repudiation of these attacks.
Juan Zavala, Fatima's father, explained that he had tried to alert the school officials about the bullying the girl was suffering but did not receive the proper attention. Moreover, he pointed out that cyberbullying, with threats mainly from three girls, had spread to social media. Fatima had previously reported being a victim of bullying at school and suffered physical abuse from her classmates.
After Fatima's fall, it was discovered that she had suffered multiple fractures, including damage to her pelvis and hip. Although it was initially feared that the injuries could leave her unable to walk, her condition is currently stable but serious. The teenager's father mentioned that the Ministry of Education would cover the medical expenses but hopes that the Mexico City Attorney General's office investigates what happened.
Fatima had expressed her refusal to attend school due to the assaults she faced, related to her fondness for K-Pop and Korean culture. This situation has rekindled the debate about bullying and the importance of addressing it properly in educational institutions. The South Korean embassy highlighted the positive values of K-Pop, promoting diversity, inclusion, and healthy entertainment for young people.
