Ban female circumcision
Egypt, Medicine, 7/15/1997

The Egyptian government will not allow female circumcision in hospitals despite a court ruling which declared a ban on the practice null and void, health minister Ismail Sallam said in remarks published on July 11.

Salam, quoted in the government news paper Al Akhbar, said his ministry was challenging the ruling in a higher court, the Supreme Administrative Court.

A lower court, championing the radical Islamic cause against the government, said in June that the minister did not have the authority to ban the ancient practice by decree.

Human rights and feminist groups deplored the ruling, saying it gave doctors the green light to continue female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation because of the severe and dangerous forms it often takes.

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