An Indian-origin doctor and his wife were arrested and charged today, for allegedly helping another Indian-origin doctor perform female genital mutilations (FGM) in the US.

The accused Fakhruddin Attar (53), and his wife, Farida Attar (50) who reside in Michigan State, were held conspiracy charges to perform FGM on minor girls, out of Fakhruddin Attar’s medical clinic in Livonia, a city in Michigan.

The criminal charges come after a week , when Indian-origin doctor Jumana Nagarwala (44) of the same state, was charged with performing FGM on minor girls. Ms Nagarwala and the Attars are believed to be the first people charged under federal US law, which criminalizes FGM. In US, it is illegal to perform genital mutilation on anyone under the age of 18 years.

Fakhruddin has done his graduation from the Baroda Medical College in Gujarat, India in 1988. According to the charges, Ms Nagarwala used to perform the medical procedure on minor girls at Burhani Medical Clinic (BMC) in Michigan, This medical clinic was owned and operated by Fakruddin, where his wife Farida, was an officer manager employed at BMC. The compliant received against the Attars said, that the couple arranged and assisted in the FGM of minor girls, performed by Nagarwala. Farida used to assist Nagarwala, in their clinic during the FGM procedures.

Fakhruddin revealed the federal agents that, he knew Nagarwala, who used to occasionally see patients at his clinic, even though she was not employed there. Nagarwala would visit the patients at BMC, when the clinic was closed, and Farida used to be available at the examining room, while Nagarwala performed the FGM procedures. As per the investigations, many minor girls informed forensic personnel and revealed that Nagarwala, performed procedures on their genitals, and one minor girl admitted that Farida had been present when Ms Nagarwala did the FGM procedures. According to the complaint, most of the minor victims who allegedly traveled interstate, to have the FGM procedures performed, were approximately six to eight years old.

Since 1997, the number of girls under 18, at risk for FGM, in the US has quadrupled. According to, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, estimation, around 513,000 women and girls are at risk of FGM in the US. In 1996, the US Congress passed a law, making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting of the genital organs, in the US on anyone under the age of 18. However FGM is not a crime in 26 US states, including Michigan.

Indian Origin Female Doctor Charged With Genital Mutilation In The US

By Supraja