A London woman has become the first UK national to be convicted of aiding female genital mutilation abroad.
Amina Noor, 39, handed over a three-year-old girl for FGM during a trip to Kenya in 2006.
She was convicted on Thursday at the Old Bailey of assisting a non-UK person to carry out the procedure overseas.
It’s the first conviction of its kind, and only the second under FGM law.
The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.
Noor has been granted conditional bail ahead of sentencing on 20 December 2023.
Noor said she thought the girl was only having an injection and appeared “shocked and upset” when it was revealed otherwise.
At her trial, Noor claimed that she felt that if she didn’t take part she would be “cursed” and “disowned” from her community.
The prosecutor told the jury that while they “wish to consider… whether [the defendant] genuinely did not want (the girl) to be circumcised”, Noor never refused or queried the qualifications of those involved.
This crime was only revealed when the victim was 16 and told her English teacher at school.
CPS London Complex Casework Unit worker, Ms Strobino stated that she is “pleased that we’ve had a conviction on this case” saying if people want to practice FGM in the UK, “they are likely to be prosecuted”.
The alleged victim, who cannot be identified, is now 21 years old.
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HeadlineLondoner convicted for female genital mutilation committed abroad in UK first
Short HeadlineLondoner convicted of assisting FGM in Kenya in 2006
StandfirstIt's the first time a UK national has been convicted for FGM committed abroad.
A London woman has become the first UK national to be convicted of aiding female genital mutilation abroad.
Amina Noor, 39, handed over a three-year-old girl for FGM during a trip to Kenya in 2006.
She was convicted on Thursday at the Old Bailey of assisting a non-UK person to carry out the procedure overseas.
It’s the first conviction of its kind, and only the second under FGM law.
The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.
Noor has been granted conditional bail ahead of sentencing on 20 December 2023.
Noor said she thought the girl was only having an injection and appeared “shocked and upset” when it was revealed otherwise.
At her trial, Noor claimed that she felt that if she didn’t take part she would be “cursed” and “disowned” from her community.
The prosecutor told the jury that while they “wish to consider… whether [the defendant] genuinely did not want (the girl) to be circumcised”, Noor never refused or queried the qualifications of those involved.
This crime was only revealed when the victim was 16 and told her English teacher at school.
CPS London Complex Casework Unit worker, Ms Strobino stated that she is “pleased that we’ve had a conviction on this case” saying if people want to practice FGM in the UK, “they are likely to be prosecuted”.
The alleged victim, who cannot be identified, is now 21 years old.
