A physician in Upper Egypt has been referred to prosecution to be probed on carrying out female circumcision operations of five girls, the Egyptian Gazette reported Saturday.
Commenting on the case on Friday, Egyptian Health Minister Hatem el-Gabali said "the ministry will continue to track the medical professionals and toughen punishment in order to protect Egypt's girls," said the report without further elaboration.
Egypt has recently intensified a campaign against female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), after two girls died of the practice in two months in the country.
On Aug. 11, a girl at the age of 13 died during an illegal circumcision operation in a village of the Nile Delta.
After the death of an 11-year-old girl in southern governorate of Minya due to problem caused by the practice late June, el- Gabali issued on June 28 a decision banning all female circumcision.
FGM was banned in Egypt in 1996, but the centuries-old practice remains widespread as a rite of passage for girls and doctors were allowed to operate "in exceptional cases."
Calling FGM a "grim reality," Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa has urged a ban on "any form of attacks on the dignity and honor of the individual," said the report.
Source: Xinhua
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