16 October 2019

NSW genital mutilation convictions stand

The convictions of three people for female genital mutilation in NSW will stand after Australia's highest court ruled the practice is illegal in all its various forms.

The ruling comes four years after the trio was convicted by a jury of the FGM of two primary school-aged sisters in two separate ceremonies the occurred between October 2009 and 2012.

The two girls' mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and midwife Kubra Magennis were each handed a minimum 11-month custodial sentence, to be served by way of home detention, in 2016 after they were found guilty of "mutilating the clitoris" of the girls.

Dawoodi Bohra sect community leader Shabbir Mohammedbhai Vaziri was also found guilty of being an accessory to the girl's mutilation and was also sentenced to a minimum of 11 months' imprisonment. [7NEWS] Read more