CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament has significantly boosted criminal penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM), passing an amendment that is widely welcomed by many segments of Egyptian society. Human rights groups are hoping, but are not convinced, that the amendment will help reduce this widespread phenomenon across Egypt.
In 2008, Egypt banned FGM operations in governmental and nongovernmental hospitals and other private or public practices following the death of an Egyptian teenager, Baddour Shaker, who had undergone the procedure in June of that year.