Chinese Woman Forced to Abort at 7 Months Speaks Out for First Time
Feng Jianmei, a Chinese woman who last June was beaten by birth control officials in the Shaanxi province and forced to abort her seven-month old baby girl, has spoken out for the first time since enduring her horrific tragedy, saying that she still deals with persistent medical issues due to the late-term abortion, and that she feels she and her husband suffered the greatest loss of all: the loss of a child.
Jianmei, whose forced abortion sparked global outcry against China's one-child policy after a photo of her lying next to her stillborn daughter went viral on the Internet, said in a recent interview with DragonTV that she lives in a different city than her husband, Deng Jiyuan, because she is still receiving medical treatment for her late-term abortion.
Additionally, Jianmei told the Chinese news channel, in Mandarin, that she currently lives in the Jiangsu province, away from her husband and family, because she felt too much emotional pain living in the province where she received the forced abortion.
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"I thought that if I changed my living environment, my mood would get better. After I went to Jiangsu province, I felt much better. Before, when people recognized me, it always reminded me of the forced abortion ... I had a very uncomfortable feeling," Jianmei told DragonTV.
Jianmei has reportedly continued to endure bodily complications due to the late-term abortion, during which a potent chemical solution was injected into her womb.
"I went to the hospital to get checked a few times," she told DragonTV.
"When I went to Jiangsu, I also got checked several times. I underwent a small surgery over there. There are still some problems with my body. I'm still in the process of healing. I also take medicine every day," she added.
Jianmei went on to say that although the Chinese government initially promised to pay for her medical bills post-forced abortion, she has yet to receive reimbursement.
Jianmei, who is in her 20s and has one other child with her husband, went on to say that although the city issued a formal apology following the forced abortion, fired several government and hospital employees, and provided Jianmei with a living stipend, she still feels a great loss for her unborn baby.
"Several local government officials lost their jobs and I got compensation, but there is no real winner in this case," the young mother said in the interview.
"We lost the most; We lost a baby," she added.
Jianmei is reportedly hoping that she will soon be able to return to her husband in the Shaanxi province, where he currently works for a cement factory.
Kat Lewis, director of communications for All Girls Allowed, an organization which fights to end female infanticide in China, told The Christian Post that Jianmei's recent interview shows that the Chinese government has done very little to right their previous wrongs.
"In general, the takeaway that stands out to [All Girls Allowed] is that these officials, who last summer made a huge show of apologizing and declaring that they would right the wrong, have since left the family separated and anxious," Lewis told CP.
All Girls Allowed is calling on the Chinese government to do more to help Jianmei, a victim whom Lewis says has not spoken out until now because of fear of government backlash.
"A family that was essentially assaulted, now living in fear, is adding insult to injury. It's almost unthinkable," Lewis added.
Additionally, Brian Lee, executive director of All Girls Allowed, said in a statement emailed to CP that although the organization continues to call upon the Chinese government to help Jianmei through this time of struggle, the organization maintains hope in God's healing grace.
"We have a God who is bigger than this tragic situation. We believe he will bring healing and justice to Ms. Feng, and we pray that day comes soon," said Lee.
On June 2, Jianmei, then seven months pregnant, was dragged into a vehicle by birth control officials while her husband was at work.
When Jianmei could not pay the fines requested by the officials for having a second child, they forced her to sign an abortion consent form, subsequently injecting a chemical solution into her womb.
Jianmei then endured contractions and gave birth to her stillborn daughter on June 4.
China's one child policy has long been an internationally contested practice, as many believe it is a violation of human rights to force abortions on families choosing to have more than one child.
According to All Girls Allowed, Chinese data shows that 13 million abortions are performed in the country each year, for an average rate of 35,000 abortions per day.
