12th September 2024
A former PhD student, Emad Kaky has been found guilt of conspiring to commit Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Forced Marriage in a landmark case. The Crown Prosecution service (CPS) said this FGM conviction is the first of its kind in England and Wales. FGM has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 1985, and although this is the third FGM conviction, this is the first conviction of conspiracy to commit FGM. It is also the first case of a conspiracy to commit Forced Marriage since the implementation of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act in 2023, which raised the legal age of marriage to 18, even with parental consent.
47 year old Kaky, living in Nottingham at the time of the crime and Swansea at the time of conviction, was found guilty on Monday 9th September 2024 at Nottingham Crown Court. He had arranged for a child to travel to Iraq from the UK. The CPS confirmed that his plans were uncovered by a witness, who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK, and reported Kaky to the police. Messages retrieved from his phone showed Kaky intended for the victim to be subjected to FGM and then forced into a marriage. He will be sentenced on the 3rd October 2024.
We at Karma Nirvana welcome the recent conviction of Emad Kaky, and it sends a powerful message that these harmful acts, even when arranged to occur abroad, will be prosecuted and brought to justice in the UK.
FGM is a form of violence against women and girls where the female genital organs are injured or changed and there is no medical reason for this procedure. A forced marriage is one in which one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage, but are coerced into it.The new legislation in 2023 means anyone under the age of 18 cannot consent to a marriage. FGM and forced marriage are forms of Honour Based Abuse (HBA) and a violation of fundamental human rights. This conviction is a reminder that despite cultural complexities, these abuses have no place in any community. Victims, like the young girl in this case, deserve protection, support, and justice.
At Karma Nirvana, we continue to stand with victims of FGM, forced marriage, and other forms of HBA, offering support and advocacy. We hope that this case will encourage more victims to come forward and know they are not alone. Perpetrators of these crimes will face the full force of the law, no matter where the abuse occurs.
As we reflect on this momentous conviction, we remain steadfast in our commitment to working with authorities, communities, and professionals to safeguard victims and eradicate HBA in all its forms.
If you or someone you know is at risk of FGM, forced marriage, or other forms of Honour Based Abuse, please reach out. You are not alone, and there is help available.