Feng Jianmei after her forced abortion. Pic: Rex
Officials in China have apologised to a mum who was forced to terminate her second child against her will, sparking worldwide outrage.
Feng Jianmei was forced to have her second baby aborted SEVEN MONTHS into her pregnancy because she could not pay the 40,000 yuan (£4,000) fine for having a second child.
She and her family have received an apology from city officials in Ankang. Three officials have been suspended following initial investigations.
Ms Feng's shocking story first made headlines when a photo of her lying in a hospital bed next to her aborted baby was leaked online. Officials originally maintained she had consented to the abortion as she already has a daughter, born in 2007.
Li Yuongjou, deputy chief of Ankang's family department, originally said Ms Feng "had not been forced to abort", adding: "A lot of us tried for days to educate her. She agreed to the abortion herself."
He also added that in China, an abortion is allowed up to 28 weeks.
US based activist group, All Girls Allowed, said they had spoken to Ms Feng and her husband Deng Jiyuan, that she was forcibly bundled into a car and taken to hospital, and forcibly administered with an injection to abort her baby. Her child was stillborn 36 hours later.
Around 20 members of staff from the Family Planning Department are said to have gone to her home and placed her under arrest, before taking her to hospital. When she resisted, she was allegedly beaten.
Her family were not allowed to be present during the abortion. This appalling photo was taken by her sister-in-law and shows the exhausted mother next to the bloody and perfectly formed corpse of her baby. (Before clicking on the link, please be aware it is very upsetting.)
Following the suspensions of the three officials, the Ankang city government has urged the Zhenping county government to conduct a thorough review of its family planning operations, reports Xinhua news.
Commenting on the case, Chai Ling of All Girls Allowed, said: "Feng Jianmei's story demonstrates how the One-Child Policy continues to sanction violence against women every day."