Jury convicts father in genital mutilation of girl


AWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A jury Wednesday found an Ethiopian immigrant guilty of the genital mutilation of his 2-year-old daughter in what was believed to be the first criminal case in the United States involving the ancient African tradition.

Khalid Adem, 30, was convicted of aggravated battery and cruelty to children. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Adem used scissors to remove his daughter’s clitoris in his family’s Atlanta-area apartment in 2001. The child’s mother, Fortunate Adem, said she did not discover it until more than a year later.
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During her father’s trial, the girl, now 7, clutched a teddy bear as she testified on videotape that her father “cut me on my private part.”

Federal law specifically bans the practice of genital mutilation, but many states do not have a law addressing it. Georgia lawmakers, with the support of the girl’s mother, passed an anti-mutilation law last year. But Adem was not tried under that law since it did not exist when his daughter was cut.

During the trial, Adem testified he never circumcised his daughter or asked anyone else to do so. He said he grew up in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and considers the practice more prevalent in rural areas.

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Adem’s attorney acknowledged that the girl had been cut, but implied that the family of the girl’s mother, who immigrated from South Africa, may have been responsible. The Adems divorced three years ago, and attorney Mark Hill suggested that the couple’s daughter was coached to testify against her father by her mother, who has full custody of the child.

Adem, who cried throughout the trial and during his testimony, was asked what he thought of someone who believes in the practice. He replied: “The word I can say is 'mind in the gutter.' He is a moron.”

The practice crosses ethnic and cultural lines and is not tied to a particular religion. Activists say it is intended to deny women sexual pleasure. In its most extreme form, the clitoris and parts of the labia are removed and the labia that remain are stitched together.

Knives, razors or even sharp stones are usually used, according to a 2001 department report. The tools often are not sterilized, and often, many girls are circumcised at the same ceremony, leading to infection.

It is unknown how many girls have died from the procedure, either during the cutting or from infections, or years later in childbirth. Nightmares, depression, shock and feelings of betrayal are common psychological side effects, according to a 2001 federal report.

Since 2001, the State Department estimates that up to 130 million women worldwide have undergone circumcision.

Quoted: Jury convicts father in genital mutilation of girl AWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A jury Wednesday found an Ethiopian immigrant guilty of the genital mutilation of his 2-year-old daughter in what was believed to be the first criminal case in the United States involving the ancient African tradition. Khalid Adem, 30, was convicted of aggravated battery and cruelty to children. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors said Adem used scissors to remove his daughter’s clitoris in his family’s Atlanta-area apartment in 2001. The child’s mother, Fortunate Adem, said she did not discover it until more than a year later. Story continues below ↓ advertisement During her father’s trial, the girl, now 7, clutched a teddy bear as she testified on videotape that her father “cut me on my private part.” Federal law specifically bans the practice of genital mutilation, but many states do not have a law addressing it. Georgia lawmakers, with the support of the girl’s mother, passed an anti-mutilation law last year. But Adem was not tried under that law since it did not exist when his daughter was cut. During the trial, Adem testified he never circumcised his daughter or asked anyone else to do so. He said he grew up in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and considers the practice more prevalent in rural areas.  Click for related content Judge rules no circumcision for 9-year-old Adem’s attorney acknowledged that the girl had been cut, but implied that the family of the girl’s mother, who immigrated from South Africa, may have been responsible. The Adems divorced three years ago, and attorney Mark Hill suggested that the couple’s daughter was coached to testify against her father by her mother, who has full custody of the child. Adem, who cried throughout the trial and during his testimony, was asked what he thought of someone who believes in the practice. He replied: “The word I can say is 'mind in the gutter.' He is a moron.” The practice crosses ethnic and cultural lines and is not tied to a particular religion. Activists say it is intended to deny women sexual pleasure. In its most extreme form, the clitoris and parts of the labia are removed and the labia that remain are stitched together. Knives, razors or even sharp stones are usually used, according to a 2001 department report. The tools often are not sterilized, and often, many girls are circumcised at the same ceremony, leading to infection. It is unknown how many girls have died from the procedure, either during the cutting or from infections, or years later in childbirth. Nightmares, depression, shock and feelings of betrayal are common psychological side effects, according to a 2001 federal report. Since 2001, the State Department estimates that up to 130 million women worldwide have undergone circumcision.

He'll get it over-turned with the right lawyer.

Quoted: Jury convicts father in genital mutilation of girl The child’s mother, Fortunate Adem, said she did not discover it until more than a year later.

Bullshit, she knew

What real parent wouldn't know if a child that young was hurt or not.

Quoted: Quoted: Jury convicts father in genital mutilation of girl The child’s mother, Fortunate Adem, said she did not discover it until more than a year later. Bullshit, she knew What real parent wouldn't know if a child that young was hurt or not.

just what Im getting from the story her family did while on a visit and she using it to hurt her EX

I know what his punishment should be........

Quoted: Jury convicts father in genital mutilation of girl AWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A jury Wednesday found an Ethiopian immigrant guilty of the genital mutilation of his 2-year-old daughter in what was believed to be the first criminal case in the United States involving the ancient African tradition. <snip> The child’s mother, Fortunate Adem, said she did not discover it until more than a year later.<snip>.

Put them both in jail! Gotta raise the BS flag on this one, big-time.

There is no F'-in way that they'll convince me that she didn't know about this. So what is she trying to convince us of -
that at 2 year of age, her daughter was taking her own baths, was dressing herself, etc???
That she never noticed the huge red irritated, probably infected area if he used scissors?!

Yeah, okay...... Complicity, pure & simple. Hang `em both, save the powder & lead for later.....

I have a daughter, and just thinking about that shit makes me cringe!

"Crosses cultural and ethnic lines", sure. It just happens to be done in primarily muslim communities.

Don't judge others.

Quoted: ..... Federal law specifically bans the practice of genital mutilation, but many states do not have a law addressing it. Georgia lawmakers, with the support of the girl’s mother, passed an anti-mutilation law last year. ......

I hope I'm not the only one frustrated by the statement "many states do not have a law addressing it".

Good Grief do we need new laws for each and every devient practice that is brought in by people who were born in 'stone age' societies?

There should be laws in the books already that cover this. If I begin removing parts of my kids with garden shears, I'm positive that there would be laws covering it. Why do we need 'new' laws? Is it because the majority of this barbaric practice are from ROP?

Quoted: AWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - A jury Wednesday found an Ethiopian immigrant guilty of the genital mutilation of his 2-year-old daughter in what was believed to be the first criminal case in the United States involving the ancient African tradition. Khalid Adem, 30, was convicted of aggravated battery and cruelty to children. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Oh yeah, I hate that MSM liberal bullshit.... it is a islam tradition. I guess they spin it to protect mooslims from getting a bad image.

Funny how these Muslim dads aren't the ones getting mutilated. I guess they wouldn't like that.

Next thing you know they'll make it illegal for a father to kill a girl for dishonoring his family by allowing herself to be raped.

What is this country coming to?

why is male circumcision acceptable ?


i never consented. i wish i had never been  cut.

Quoted: why is male circumcision acceptable ? i never consented. i wish i had never been  cute.

You ain't right

Quoted: Next thing you know they'll make it illegal for a father to kill a girl for dishonoring his family by allowing herself to be raped. What is this country coming to?

Damn strait!

In before the moral relativists...

We should just embrace the diversity.  Who are we to impose our values on these fine Africans?