Judge dismisses female genital mutilation charges in historic case

DETROIT — In a major blow to the government, a federal judge in Detroit has declared America’s female genital mutilation law as unconstitutional, thereby dismissing the key charges against two Michigan doctors and six others accused of subjecting at least nine minor girls to the cutting procedure in the nation’s first FGM case.

The historic case involves minor girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, including some who cried, screamed and bled during the procedure and one who was given Valium ground in liquid Tylenol to keep her calm, court records show.

The judge’s ruling also removed three mothers from the case, including two Minnesota women whom prosecutors said tricked their 7-yearold daughters into thinking they were coming to Detroit for a girls’ weekend, but instead had their genitals cut at a Livonia clinic as part of a religious procedure.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman concluded that “as despicable as this practice may be,” Congress did not have the authority to pass the 22year-old federal law that criminalizes female genital mutilation, and that it’s a matter for the states to regulate. FGM is banned worldwide and has been outlawed in more than 30 countries, though the U.S. statute had never been tested before this case.

“As laudable as the prohibition of a particular type of abuse of girls may be ... federalism concerns deprive Congress of the power to enact this statute,” Friedman wrote in his 28page opinion, noting: “Congress overstepped its bounds by legislating to prohibit FGM ... FGM is a ‘local criminal activity’ which, in keeping with longstanding tradition and our federal system of government, is for the states to regulate, not Congress.”

Currently, 27 states have laws that criminalize female genital mutilation, including Michigan, whose FGM law is stiffer than the federal statute, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Michigan’s FGM law was passed last year in the wake of the historic case and applies to both doctors who conduct the procedure, and parents who transport a child to have it done.

Gina Balaya, spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office, said in a statement: “We are reviewing the judge’s opinion and will make a determination whether or not to appeal at some point in the future.”

Friedman’s ruling stems from a request by Dr. Jumana Nagarwala and her co-defendants to dismiss the genital mutilation charges, claiming the law they are being prosecuted under is unconstitutional.

More specifically, the defendants have argued that “Congress lacked authority to enact” the genital mutilation statute, “thus the female genital mutilation charges must be dismissed.” They also argue that they didn’t actually practice genital mutilation, but rather engaged in a benign religious ritual that involves only a scraping of the genitals.

“Oh my God, we won!” declared Shannon Smith, Nagarwala’s lawyer, who expects the government to appeal. “But we are confident we will win even if appealed.”

Smith has maintained all along that her client did not engage in FGM, but rather performed a benign religious procedure that involved nicking, not cutting.

“Dr. Nagarwala is just a wonderful human being. She was always known as a doctor with an excellent reputation,” Smith said. “The whole community was shocked when this happened. She’s always been known to be a stellar doctor, mother, person.”

For FGM survivor and social activist Mariya Taher, who heads a campaign out of Cambridge, Mass., to ban genital cutting worldwide, Friedman’s ruling was a punch to the gut.

“Oh my God, this is crazy,” said Taher, stressing she fears the ruling will put more young women in harm’s way. “Unfortunately, this is going to embolden those who believe that this must be continued ... they’ll feel that this is permission, that it’s okay to do this.”

Taher, who at 7 was subjected to the same type of religious cutting procedure that’s at issue in the Michigan case, said she doesn’t expect laws alone to end FGM. But they are needed, she stressed.

“This is a violation of one person’s human rights. It’s a form of gender violence ... This is cultural violence,” 35-year-old Taher said.