Ethiopian Immigrant Sentenced For Genital Mutilation

An Ethiopian immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for circumcising his 2-year-old daughter yesterday in Georgia (US). Khalid Adem was convicted on charges of aggravated battery and cruelty to children. Human rights activists are delighted with the ruling, thought to be the first criminal case in the US dealing with the 5,000 year old tradition. Tania Bien-Aime of Equality Now expressed the hope that “this case is really a call to action, not just a message to say that you cannot mutilate your daughters.” UNICEF estimates 3 million girls and women are cut each year in Africa. Much has been done to stop the practice, but in some areas it is considered a right of passage for women. Federal law bans the practice, and Georgia has passed an anti-mutilation law in the wake of this incident. Adem could not be tried under it however, the act did not exist at the time he cut his daughter. The case raised interesting questions about conflicting cultures and customs, but Judge Winegarden held that one’s customs does not excuse him from US laws. For more check out the AP story here.