The mother - surname Tang - was sent to a labor camp in August after campaigning for harsher punishments for those found guilty of raping her then 11-year-old daughter and forcing the girl into prostitution in 2006.

 

　　The petition came three days after authorities refused to compensate for her time in the labor camp.

 

　　The move has sparked a new wave of public outcry to reform or even abolish the re-education through labor system.

 

　　Experts say the criticism stems from lack of a legal basis in randomly expanding its scope to cover unwanted petitioners.

 

　　The re-education through labor system was established in the 1950s.

 

　　Many experts believe it contradicts the Constitution and has been abused by local officials to safeguard "social security."

 

　　Judicial authorities say they are formulating a plan for the reform of the controversial system.