Chinese Government Forces Abortion on Woman at Seven Months

A woman was forcibly aborted at seven months of pregnancy in China last week.

According to a report by the China-based human rights organization 64Tianwang, the woman, Feng Jianmei, was beaten and dragged into a vehicle by a group of Family Planning Officials while her husband, Deng Jiyuan, was out working.

The officials asked for RMB 40,000 in fines from Feng Jianmei’s family. When they did not receive the money, they forcibly aborted Feng at seven months, laying the body of her aborted baby next to her in the bed. Feng is under medical treatment in Ankang City, Zhenpin County, Zengjia Town, Yupin village.

“This is an outrage. No legitimate government would commit or tolerate such an act,” Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers (WRWF). “Those who are responsible should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. WRWF calls on the United States government and the leaders of the free world to strongly condemn forced abortion and all coercive family planning in China.”

The Alliance Defense Fund is calling on U.S. political leaders to condemn the atrocity of forced abortion in China in the wake of graphic media reports.

“This is nothing less than a crime against humanity. Every innocent life deserves to be protected, and no woman deserves this type of barbaric, dehumanizing treatment,” says Alliance Defense Fund director of Global Activities Benjamin Bull. “ADF calls upon our leaders in Washington to thoroughly condemn China’s practice of forced abortion and demand that it stop immediately. This is one event, but it is undoubtedly only one example of many more such forced abortions that occur in China.”

In another incident, at least a dozen family planning officials broke into the home of Cao Ruyi, five months pregnant with her second child, and dragged her to the hospital for a forced abortion. Her husband, Li Fu, was beaten on the way to the hospital and told that if he and his wife did not consent to a “voluntary” abortion, his wife would be forced to abort. Over the weekend, the hospital released Cao Ruyi upon payment of a fine of US $1500 “social compensation fee.” Family Planning Officials still demand an additional payment of US $25,000 for her to continue her pregnancy.

“The plight of Mrs. Cao and her husband vividly demonstrates the brutality of China’s One Child Policy,” Littlejohn says. “The Chinese Communist Party has reported 13 million abortions a year. How many millions of Chinese women will be forced to abort their babies this year? We strongly condemn forced abortion and urge the international community to take a stand against this heinous crime against humanity.”

Congressman Chris Smith issued a statement urging that Cao Ruyi be allowed to continue her pregnancy. Bob Fu, president of China Aid, communicated with the couple over the weekend.

“WRWF is relieved that Mrs. Cao was released from the hospital. But if the couple is unable to pay this heavy additional fine, what will happen to them? Unless international pressure is applied, Mrs. Cao will likely be forcibly aborted,” Littlejohn says. “They are not out of danger.”