Indiana poised to ban cultural practice of female genital mutilation – The Times of Northwest Indiana

Indiana is set to become the 40th state to criminalize the practice of female genital mutilation.

The General Assembly recently approved Senate Enrolled Act 240 — without a single vote in opposition — sending the FGM ban to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law.

Under the plan, any person who performs or permits the removal of the external female genitalia of child younger than 18 for a non-medical reason can be charged with a Level 3 felony, punishable by up to 16 years in prison and a fine of $10,000, as well as be subject to civil legal liability.

State Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, the sponsor, said an Indiana FGM ban is needed to cover gaps in a federal law that similarly prohibits female circumcision and other FGM practices common in some African and Asian cultures.
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