Father denies needle speculation
Print Edition
THE father of a baby girl found with 16 needles stuck into her body has denied online speculation linking the abuse to a traditional belief that this helps ensure that a family’s next child is a boy.
Web users have also suggested that someone was torturing the 11-month-old child, known as “Zixuan,” because the family from east China’s Shandong Province had wanted a son.
A preference for sons is still a deep-rooted tradition in some rural parts of China.
But Fan Guangsheng told the Beijing News that his wife Liu Yuxiang could not have more children as she’s been sterilized. The couple also have a 9-year-old daughter.
And in any case, said Fan, they could not afford more children — especially a boy.
“Under our customs, parents have to support sons for life. Some even have to build houses and buy cars for them, which brings a lot of stress,” he said.
Liu said her daughter began crying more frequently from July, though the family thought nothing of it at the time.
But when bathing Zixuan recently, Liu discovered and removed four needles that had been stuck into the child.
Liu took the child for a medical checkup in Liaocheng City last Monday and was astonished to learn that Zixuan had another 12 needles stuck into her body.
On Saturday, Liaocheng police said the girl’s aunt, 26-year-old Liu Hongyun, had been identified as a suspect.
However, she had committed suicide the previous day by taking pesticide.
Fan said he didn’t want to suspect Liu Hongyun as they always got on well. His elder daughter often visited her aunt, who would cook for her, he added.
Zixuan is now at the Beijing Children’s Hospital and officials said she appears none the worse for her ordeal.
However, CT scans show needles stuck into her buttocks, pelvis and abdomen. Five needles are close to her internal organs and pose risks, said the newspaper.
The hospital said it will require several operations to remove them.
Zixuan is due to undergo her first surgery tomorrow to have three needles identified as the most dangerous removed, her father said.
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