High-profile FGM case involving a Somali father thrown out by UK court

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A Bristol Somali community group has publicly condemned the practice of female genital mutilation - but has raised fears about the “abuse and harassment" of Somalis living in Bristol.

The Bristol Somali Forum has released a statement after a high-profile FGM case involving a dad living in the city was thrown out following a three-day trial.

Anti-FGM campaigner Sami Ullah claimed a cab driver from Bristol told him he had allowed his daughter to undergo a procedure but the “deeply troubling” case was thrown out by a judge, bringing to an end an attempt to secure the UK’s first ever FGM conviction.


The Somali Forum says it fears innocent parents with young daughters could be targeted during the nationwide campaign to end FGM.

A statement from the group, released on Monday February 26, said: “We, the Somali community in Bristol, do neither condone nor support FGM because it is against the law and our Islamic religion. We completely support the campaign to eradicate FGM and we also agree anyone who breaks the law by practicing this barbaric custom should be prosecuted.

“The collapsed FGM trial has highlighted the systematic abuse and harassment faced by Somali parents with young daughters in the city.

“The targeted aggressive approach of the professional FGM campaigners has caused stress to many Somali families with young children in Bristol.

On Thursday February 22 Judge Julian Lambert directed a Bristol Crown Court jury to acquit the father, who cannot be named to ensure the child’s anonymity, after finding a lack of evidence an offence had taken place, meaning there was no case to answer.

The 29-year-old dad, who lives in an inner city area of Bristol, faced a charge of assaulting, ill-treating or neglecting a child or young person, to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

The case related to an allegation that an FGM procedure was carried out on his daughter, due to an injury found on her when she was aged six.

Bristol Somali Forum has called for an inquiry into the anti-FGM campaign, calling it “systematic abuse.”

The group’s statement added: “The human rights of many Somali young girls has in the city have been breached.”

Questions have been asked of the senior police officer in the landmark case.

DCI Leanne Pook, of Avon and Somerset Police, led the investigation after campaigner Sami Ullah claimed a cab driver from Bristol had allowed his daughter to undergo a form of FGM.

National newspaper The Mail on Sunday has since revealed that DCI Pook is a trustee of the anti-FGM charity where Mr Ullah worked and knew him personally.

Tory Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger claimed this represented a "conflict of interest",
although Avon and Somerset police say her role with the charity was "compatible with her position as a police officer" and no complaints relating to the case have been made.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-somali-community-condemn-barbaric-1272901
 
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