Case is second FGM prosecution brought to court in UK, both of which have resulted in acquittalsA man has been cleared of arranging female genital mutilation on his daughter when she was nine. The defendant, a 50-year-old solicitor who cannot be named for legal reasons, was accused of beating his children and organising for FGM to be carried out on his daughter on two occasions. At the trial at the Old Bailey in London he denied the charges against him and said he had never threatened to have his daughter cut. Kate Bex QC, defending, suggested FGM was “predominantly perpetrated by female cutters on women” for reasons including “purification, honour and social acceptance”. Giving evidence, the defendant told jurors he loved all his children equally.

Source: The Guardian March 22, 2018 14:19 UTC