A second Michigan doctor has been arrested for performing illegal genital mutilation surgery on young girls.
Federal prosecutors arrested Dr. Fakhruddin Attar, 53, and his wife Farida Attar, 50, on Friday and charged them with conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation surgery and aiding and abetting female genital mutilation (FGM).
Dr. Attar is accused of conspiring with Dr. Jumana Nagarwala to perform genital mutilation surgery on girls who traveled from as far as Minnesota.
Nagarwala, a Henry Ford Hospital emergency room doctor, was arrested on April 12. She is being held without bond.
Nagarwala, 44, was charged with “transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity” — a legal reference to FGM surgery — and making false statements to a federal officer.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the total or partial removal of the clitoris and sometimes the labia. The purpose of the surgery is to reduce female sexual pleasure so girls will grow up to remain faithful to their husbands.
According to WXYZ, the illegal procedures took place at Dr. Fakhruddin Attar’s Livonia clinic, which was raided by the feds on Friday morning.
The children told federal agents that their parents told them they were taking a “‘special’ girls trip.”
The girls were accompanied by their mothers to a motel room outside of Detroit, where they were met by Nagarwala.
The doctor told each child that she was giving them an injection to “get the germs out”.
After the procedure, one little girl told investigators she was in pain and could “barely walk”.
“According to the complaint, despite her oath to care for her patients, Dr. Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco.
“Female genital mutilation constitutes a particularly brutal form of violence against women and girls. It is also a serious federal felony in the United States. The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law,” said Acting United States Attorney Daniel Lemisch.
The FBI believes there could be more victims. Anyone with information about the illegal practice of FGM surgery or Dr. Nagarwala is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5984) or file an e-tip at FBI.gov/FGM.
