Stop Violence Against Women


Human Rights Defender


Mao Hengfeng

China

Mao Hengfeng, a mother of twins, was dismissed from her job in 1988 because she became pregnant with her third child, in violation of China's family planning regulations. Mao refused to have an abortion, and was subsequently detained in a psychiatric hospital, where she was forcibly injected with various drugs. She nevertheless continued the pregnancy, giving birth prematurely to a daughter on February 28, 1989. She was notified on March 20 that she had been dismissed from her job for missing 16 days of work.

Mao appealed her dismissal under China's Labor Law, and was reinstated to her job. However, the factory where she worked appealed the ruling. Mao was seven months pregnant with her fourth child at the time of the appeal hearing, when the judge reportedly told her that if she terminated this third pregnancy, he would rule in her favor. Concerned for the welfare of her existing family, Mao terminated her pregnancy against her wishes, but still the court ruled against her.

Mao Hengfeng has repeatedly petitioned the authorities regarding her dismissal from work, her forced abortion and denial of other basic rights including the right to freedom of expression. During her years of petitioning, Mao Hengfeng has been detained on numerous occasions by police - including in psychiatric facilities. In April 2004 she was sent to a "Reeducation through Labor" (RTL) camp because of her persistence in petitioning local officials. While detained in the RTL facility, she was reportedly tied up, suspended from the ceiling and severely beaten. She was released on September 12, 2005. After her release, she continued to petition against the torture and ill treatment she had suffered as well as on the part of other alleged victims.

Most recently, she was again detained by police on May 23, 2006 because of her continued outspoken support of victims of forced eviction and arbitrary detention by the Shanghai authorities. She was detained for several months without charge at a government-operated Communist youth guest house. While there, Mao broke a lamp inside her hostel room, and as a result was charged with "intentionally damaging property." While her case was rejected due to insufficient evidence, police continue to attempt to collect more evident against her while she remains in detention.

Currently, Mao Hengfeng is reportedly detained at Yangpu District Branch Police Station in Shanghai, where she is kept in solitary confinement and not allowed to communicate with others, including family members. It is also reported that her cell has no bed, so she must sleep on the floor, and food is delivered to her through a small hole.


Please send letters to:

Director of the Shanghai Bureau of Justice
Miao Xiaobao Juzhang
Shanghaishi Sifaju
225 Wuxinglu
Shanghaishi 200030
People's Republic of China
Email: contact_us@eastday.com | webmaster@justice.gov.cn | jijianjiancha@eastday.com
Fax: + 86 21 64743029



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