FGM in Egypt: Doctor and father cleared in landmark trial

20 November 2014 Last updated at 15:43

Suhair was a gifted 13-year-old when she died after allegedly undergoing female genital mutilation

The doctor and father of a 13-year-old girl who died after allegedly undergoing female genital mutilation have been acquitted in a landmark trial in Egypt.

Doctor Raslan Fadl was cleared of all charges alongside the father of Suhair al Bataa, a lawyer in the case said.

Suhair died in June 2013. Her doctor denied carrying out FGM on her, and blamed her death on an allergy.

The practice of FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 but is still widespread.

Over 90% of Egyptian women under 50 have experienced it, according to government statistics.

This was the first time a prosecution relating to FGM had been brought to trial.

'Awful'

Women's rights activists, who saw the trial as a significant step forward, have expressed dismay at the verdict.

"It is awful that after what seemed to be strong moves towards a positive outcome, Suhair has not been given justice," said Suad Abu-Dayyeh, a representative for the NGO Equality Now, which pressed for the trial to be brought.

"We can only hope that the strong commitment by the Egyptian government to finally take FGM seriously will result in further moves in the right direction and we will now discuss next steps with the local lawyers."

Suhair al Bataa, who lived in small farming community on the outskirts of the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, died after allegedly being forced to undergo FGM by her father.

Her doctor said the cause of death was an allergy to penicillin.

The judge in the Nile Delta town of Aga acquitted both men without giving his reasons.

Correspondents say that while some Egyptians are fighting for the practice to be eradicated, others justify it in the name of religion.

Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, her relatives defended the practice of FGM, and insisted no-one was to blame for her death.