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Egypt releases doctor who performed FGM on 12-year-old who bled to death

An Egyptian court released on bail Thursday a doctor who was detained for performing a genital cutting procedure on a 12-year-old girl who bled to death last month.
The gynecologist was bailed for $3,000 by the court in Manfalout, about 400 kilometers south of the capital Cairo.
He said he conducted the illegal procedure alone in his clinic “without any anesthetic or nurse present,” according to prosecutors quoted in local media.
The girl bled to death shortly after the operation, commonly referred to as female circumcision.
Her father filed a police complaint against the doctor after his daughter’s death in late January.
Police arrested the doctor, the parents, and an aunt of the victim, before freeing the relatives days later.
Known by her first name Nada in local media, the victim’s death sparked an outcry online and in Egyptian media.
The National Council for Women, which first received the complaint from the authorities, called for the “maximum punishment for all who participated in this crime”.
The doctor’s release on Thursday coincided with the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Dar Al Ifta, the Egyptian body tasked with Islamic religious edicts, released a statement Thursday condemning FGM, deeming it “forbidden” in Islamic law.
Egypt first banned FGM in 2008, but the practice remains rife in the conservative country with many believing it promotes women’s chastity.
A 2016 survey by the United Nations Children’s Fund showed that nearly 90 percent of Egyptian women and girls aged between 15 and 49 had undergone the procedure.
Doctors found guilty of performing FGM in Egypt can face seven years imprisonment but the law is not strictly enforced.
source: AFP
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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