EQUALITY NOW
Action 38.5
December 2013
Egypt: Enforce FGM law & properly investigate Soheir al-Batea’s death
In July 2013 Equality Now issued Action 38.3 calling for enforcement
of the anti-FGM law and justice in the case of 13-year-old Soheir alBatea who died after Dr. Raslan Fadl allegedly performed female genital
mutilation (FGM) on her at her father’s request in a clinic north-east of
Cairo. Dr. Fadl was interrogated by prosecutors and released on bail
pending investigation. After traveling to Soheir’s village in November to
follow up on the case, Equality Now is concerned that the investigation
is being sidelined by the authorities.
The long-delayed forensic report lists Soheir’s cause of death as an
allergic reaction to penicillin and makes no mention of FGM, despite her
father’s initial statement to the police that she had been brought to the
clinic to be subjected to the procedure. We also understand that Dr. Fadl
paid Soheir’s family 50,000 Egyptian Pounds ($7,257 USD) and they no
longer want to pursue the case. Furthermore, Soheir’s father has changed
Equality Now’s Suad Abu-Dayyeh at
his statement to match Dr. Fadl’s statement that Soheir suffered from
the home of Soheir al-Batea
genital warts and the family brought her to the doctor to treat them.
Meanwhile, Dr Fadl continues to practice in his clinic and reportedly performs FGM procedures daily in
clear violation of the law banning the practice.
While in Egypt, Equality Now staff heard reports of another girl who died from FGM, but upon further
investigation, we were told by Police that they had received no such report. We are concerned that this
case and others like Soheir’s are occurring but not being properly investigated.
FGM has been a criminal offence under the Egyptian penal code since 2008. Despite this ban, UNICEF
reports that medicalization is on the rise in Egypt with an estimated 72% of procedures being performed
by doctors in private clinics. Without strong messages from the government, such as proper
implementation of the law and swift punishment for the perpetrators, FGM may become more acceptable
in Egypt, with women’s rights increasingly taking a back seat at all levels.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please join Equality Now and our Egyptian partners, the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance
(CEWLA) and the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s Rights (ECCR) in calling on the government of
Egypt to live up to its domestic and international obligations by:
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Effectively enforcing its FGM law by properly investigating and fully prosecuting violations and
in particular ensuring that Soheir’s death is properly investigated including by arranging for
medical experts to review the forensic report
Ensuring that Dr. Fadl is promptly investigated and held accountable for continuing to violate the
law and measures immediately taken to ensure he is no longer allowed to practice medicine and
is prevented from performing FGM
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Supporting and enhancing community education to change cultural perception and beliefs on
FGM and acknowledging FGM as a human rights violation with harmful consequences
Ensuring that health care providers are given comprehensive education and training on the health
and human rights implications of FGM and refrain from performing any form of the practice
Letters should go to:
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Interim President Adly Mansour, El Etahadiya Presidential Palace, Merghiny St., Heliopolis, Cairo, EGYPT
Fax & Tel.: +202 239 019 980
Prime Minister Mr. Hazem El-Beblawi, Magless El Shaàb Street, Al Kasr El Einy, Cairo, EGYPT
Tel.: +202 2793 5000, Fax: +202 2795 8048, Email: pm@cabinet.gov.eg
Minister of Justice, Judge Hisham Abed El Hamid, Lazoghly Square, Cairo, EGYPT
Tel.: +202 279 22263, Fax: +202 279 58103, Email: mjustice@moj.gov.eg
Minister of Health & Population, Dr. Maha El-Rebat, 3 Magless El Shaàb Street, Al Kasr El Einy, Cairo,
EGYPT
Tel.: +202 2795 1821, Fax: + 202 2795 3966, Email: webmaster@mohp.gov.eg
Attorney General, Mr. Hisham Barakat, Attorney General's Office, High Court, 26th of July Street
Ambulance Square, Cairo, EGYPT
Tel.: +202 2574 3751-2576 0468, Fax: +202 2577 4716
Please keep Equality Now updated on your work and send copies of any replies you receive to:
Equality Now, P.O. Box 20646, Columbus Circle Station, New York, NY 10023 USA, Fax: +1-212-586-1611; or
Equality Now, P.O. Box 2018 - 00202, Nairobi, KENYA, Fax: +254-20-271-9868; or
Equality Now, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ, UK, Fax: +44-207-973-1292
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