China: Woman Dies During Forced Abortion, Six Months Pregnant
Contact: Reggie Littlejohn, President, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, 310-592-5722
LIJING COUNTY, SHANDONG PROVINCE, China, Oct. 17, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- Women's Rights Without Frontiers and China Aid have obtained information that on October 12, 2011, a woman died during a forced abortion. She was six months pregnant.
According to a report posted on fanfucn.com, Jihong Ma was seized by Family Planning Officials for a forced abortion, having violated the One Child Policy. Stressed, she was placed on oxygen. In the words of a family member:
"More than ten persons from the Family Planning Bureau came, took off the oxygen mask from her and forced her to induce labor. From the time she was put into operating room at 4:00 p.m., there was no news about her . . . At night around 10:00 p.m., someone came, opened the door of the delivery room and slipped away. We ran into the delivery room and saw that the doctors and nurses all disappeared while poor Jihong Ma's body had already been totally freezing cold, with purple lips and bleeding nose, lying on the operating table without any movement . . . Jihong Ma's daughter does not know yet that her Mom has passed away. She cries looking for Mom every day."
Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, stated, "Our hearts go out to the family of Jihong Ma, who was their wife, mother or daughter. China's cruel and barbaric forced abortion policy causes more violence towards women and girls than any other official policy on earth. It is China's war against women and girls. Women are forcibly aborted up to the ninth month of pregnancy. Forced abortion is not a choice. It is official government rape."
Bob Fu, President of China Aid, stated, "Tragedies like this demonstrate the urgent need for China to establish the rule of law. Family Planning Police commit hideous crimes with impunity, as do those who persecute the house churches and Chinese human rights lawyers. Chen Guangcheng has stood up for victims of forced abortion. He has been jailed, tortured, denied medical treatment, and we don't know whether he is dead or alive."
Littlejohn issued a call to action: "We urge people to join the fight against forced abortion in China. Watch the 4-minute video, sign the petition, and forward them to your friends."