In a story we’ve been following for over a year now, a federal judge in Detroit has dismissed the main charges against two Michigan doctors who performed female genital mutilation on you girls, ruling that the federal law that banned the practice was unconstitutional:
“federal judge in Detroit on Tuesday declared unconstitutional a U.S. law banning female genital mutilation, and also dismissed several charges against two doctors and others in the first U.S. criminal case of its kind.” https://t.co/gCwtjhggFg
— Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (@gaylelemmon) November 20, 2018
The judge cited the Commerce Clause in his ruling, saying the “power to outlaw female genital mutilation … belonged to individual states”:
From @Reuters: 'Judge voids U.S. female genital mutilation law.' https://t.co/bdQMEYguad The Commerce Clause, apparently… pic.twitter.com/O6h3vwJB26
— Byron York (@ByronYork) November 21, 2018
“This story should be getting more attention” is the understatement of the month:
This story should be getting more attention, it’s a first in US history.
Female genital mutilation ban ruled unconstitutional; judge drops charges against sect in Detroit https://t.co/ta33YZL7Xv
Original story from April 2017 ⬇️ https://t.co/eBVLuziuU6
— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) November 21, 2018
From the Detroit Free Press:
“As laudable as the prohibition of a particular type of abuse of girls may be … federalism concerns deprive Congress of the power to enact this statute,” Friedman wrote in his 28-page opinion, noting: “Congress overstepped its bounds by legislating to prohibit FGM … FGM is a ‘local criminal activity’ which, in keeping with long-standing tradition and our federal system of government, is for the states to regulate, not Congress.”
Everyone should be outraged at this:
Outrageous. Federal judge throws out US law criminalizing FGM.
Cutting girls genitals is a crime and must be prosecuted. https://t.co/VRMYiaqVAG— Ayaan Hirsi Ali (@Ayaan) November 20, 2018
This premature ruling is beyond egregious. It is inhuman and un-American. The judge just signaled to butchers like “Dr” Nagarwala that they can seek refuge in the US federal system for their crimes against the humanity of young girls. @AIFDemocracy https://t.co/naH6g4FcSm
— M. Zuhdi Jasser زهدي جاسر (@DrZuhdiJasser) November 21, 2018
***
Related:
Horror doctor in Mich. defends female genital mutilation: It’s ‘religious removal’ https://t.co/Kg4ZONJCtt
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 18, 2017
HORRIFIC: Michigan doctor charged with performing female genital mutilation on young girls https://t.co/3awdfRDVkB
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 13, 2017
Unhinged: Emily Zanotti shames America’s feminists, is accused of supporting female genital mutilation https://t.co/7oNUphN2Na
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 8, 2018
Join the conversation as a VIP Member