CHANGSHA, HUNAN PROVINCE, China, June 11, 2012 /
Christian Newswire/ -- On the night of June 6, 2012, Women's Rights Without Frontiers received an emergency email about a Chinese woman in danger of forced abortion.
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.
Women's Rights Without Frontiers president Reggie Littlejohn stated, "The plight of Mrs. Cao and her husband vividly demonstrates the brutality of China's One Child Policy. 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."
Littlejohn continued, "The suffering of this couple reveals several truths about the One Child Policy. Despite official denials, China still enforces its One Child Policy through late term forced abortion. These forced abortions occur in major cities, such as Changsha, not just in the countryside. Also, officials will beat and detain 'illegally pregnant' couples to extract consent to a 'voluntary' abortion. Finally we see the enormity of the fines, which can reach ten times a person's annual salary. These fines are impossible for most couples to pay. They then may become victims of forced abortion."
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. They are not out of danger."
Stop Forced Abortion – China's War on Women! Video (4 mins)
