A former PhD student has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after becoming the first person convicted of conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) in England and Wales.
Emad Kaky, 47, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage after a two-week trial. Kaky had arranged for a young girl to travel from the UK to Iraq with the intention of subjecting her to FGM. The defendant, who previously lived in Nottingham and later Swansea, was sentenced by Judge Nirmal Shant KC at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, October 3.
Judge Shant called the planned offence “barbaric” and said, “You made concerted efforts to make sure this happened. I make, nonetheless, some adjustment for the fact that no FGM took place, and importantly, thankfully, [the girl] was unaware of any of these plans. This offence calls for a deterrent sentence. What you did, what you had planned, was barbaric.”
The case has been hailed as a landmark by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which called it “the first of its kind.” Messages retrieved from Kaky’s mobile phone provided evidence of his intention to subject the girl to FGM, which Kaky defended when challenged, claiming it was “normal.
During the sentencing, junior defence barrister Geraldine Kelly argued that no physical procedure had taken place, adding that the intended victim was unaware of the plans. She highlighted Kaky’s academic background as a PhD student at the University of Nottingham and noted that losing his job was a form of punishment in itself.
Kaky was also convicted of conspiracy to arrange a forced marriage for the young girl.
Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said, “Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a young, innocent girl subjected to female genital mutilation and to be forced into a marriage not of her choosing. Had he succeeded in his plans, this child would have suffered unimaginable physical and mental harm.
She emphasized that this conviction is significant not only because it is the first of its kind but also for the message it sends to those vulnerable to this form of abuse. Where there is evidence that people have plotted to commit these offences, they face prosecution, whether or not they succeed,” McKinney said.
Jaswant Narwal, CPS national lead for “honour”-based abuse, FGM, and forced marriage, highlighted the importance of deterrence in protecting women and girls from such crimes. These offences happen in close-knit communities, therefore victims are reluctant to disclose the fact that this has happened to them. Sometimes they are not aware they are victims of FGM because it’s normalized so much,” Narwal said. We treat these cases very seriously.
The University of Nottingham confirmed that Kaky was a visiting scholar when the offences came to light, and the university ended its association with him following his arrest. A spokesperson for the university said, “There is no place for such barbaric offences in our society, and our thoughts are with those who have been affected by these actions.”
This conviction marks a significant step in the fight against FGM and forced marriage in the UK, sending a strong message to those who may be considering or are vulnerable to such practices that these actions will not be tolerated.
