New Laws Target Female Genital Mutilation

Egyptian Penal Law, No. 58 of 1937, amended by Law No. 141 of 2021, has intensified penalties for the crime of female genital mutilation (FGM), including the possibility of severe imprisonment. The law stipulates that anyone who performs FGM—removing part or all of the external genitalia of a girl—shall be sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison. If the procedure results in permanent disability, the sentence is doubled to not less than seven years, and if it leads to death, the penalty increases to up to ten years in prison. Medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses, are subject to at least five years in harsh custody, with sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years if the act causes the victim's death. The penalties also include closing the facility where the procedure was carried out and removing its signage, imposing fines, and banning the practitioner from practicing the profession for up to five years. Additionally, the law mandates the publication of these verdicts in media outlets. It also prescribes imprisonment for anyone who requests FGM or promotes it in any way, ensuring that this crime is criminalized and vigorously combated.

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