Egypt To Stengthen Penalties Against Female Circumcision

MedIndia reports that Egyptian authorities plan to introduce legislation this fall to strengthen penalties against female circumcision after a 13-year old died while undergoing the procedure. The International Herald Tribune said that this is the second such death within the last two months. After the first death, Egypt's health minister banned all members of the medical professions from performing the procedure, currently punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Egyptian religious leaders have begun to speak out against the practice which many Egyptian Muslims and Christians think is religiously mandated.