First man sentenced for 'barbaric' FGM attempt after arranging for young girl to travel to Iraq

While a PHD student in Nottingham and working at the university, Kaky made travel arrangements, but his plans were discovered by a witness who reported his intentions to the police.

The man, who now lives in Swansea, Wales, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation and forced marriage on 9th September.

Sentencing, Judge Nirmal Shant said “FGM is a barbaric practise” often inflicted on “young and vulnerable” girls.

Therefore her sentence must be “substantial“ to act as an “appropriate deterrent” in future.

The judge added that Kaky was unlikely to offend again.

Victims of sex offences, including FGM, are granted automatic anonymity for the rest of their lives meaning some details of the case cannot be reported.

Atkinson, prosecuting, said, the “complex case” involved “significant planning” by Emad Kaky.

Mitigating, Kaky’s defence barrister, said “no procedure was ever carried out and no actual harm was caused” to the victim.

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, described Kaky’s plans as “horrific.”

“There is no place for this unacceptable and abhorrent practice in society.”

FGM has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 1985. While only the third FGM conviction since, Kaky is the first person to be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit FGM.

Female genital mutilation is a form of violence against women and girls which involves the act of removing or altering a women’s sexual organs without medical reason.

The act is practised most widely in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

FGM is illegal in Iraq where Kaky had made arrangements for his victim to travel.