Sweden: Female circumcision exam reported to ombudsman

I'm not sure what upsets the Uppsala Discrimination Office here: the fact that this girl was singled out, or the fact that the check was forced on her. Or maybe they should be upset that a little girl of that age could have undergone such a procedure as to require an examination later. The idea of making such examinations compulsory has already been brought up in Sweden. It came about because there is a problem and it should be dealt with.

An Uppsala schoolgirl was taken out of school by police and subjected to a gynaecological examination, after concerns were raised that she might have been circumcised.

The test showed that the girl, 11, had not had her genitals mutilated. Now, social services, the Uppsala County Council and the local police authority have been reported to Sweden's Justice Ombudsman.

The decision to force the girl to undergo the examination was taken after a district nurse raised suspicions that the girl had been taken away and mutilated. The nurse informed social services, who in turn reported her suspicions to the police.

"It is wrong that certain individuals' prejudices, and what we consider to be an unwillingness to find out the facts, should have such serious consequences for a little girl," said Lina Gidlund of the Uppsala Discrimination Office, to Swedish Radio.

Source: The Local (English)

See also: Sweden: fight the honor culture

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