Group items tagged

More than 140 young Austrians are thought to have gone to Syria and Iraq to join ISIL, according to the Ministry of Interior, a number expected to rise as long as the conflict there continues. While this presents a small share of the 12,000 foreign fighters estimated to have been recruited by ISIL so far, Austria with its population of only 8.4 million tops European countries on a per-capita basis, including France and Germany with 700 and 500 fighters, respectively.

ncreased border controls for minors, laws forbidding the use of symbols associated with ISIL, as well as the withdrawal of Austrian citizenship for dual nationals.

Ashikim Khan, 23, of Texas pleaded guilty on Wednesday to providing "material support to terrorists

r lived and died

bedrock of faith and tradition

Both play a role in perpetuating FGM

It has been outlawed since 2008

religious duty

highest prevalence rates in the world.

Over 90%

under 50 have experienced it, according to government figures.

removal of all or part of the external genitalia

promoting chastity.

still widely practised in Egyp

girls aged between nine and 13

young as six,

unconfirmed reports of newborns being subjected to it.

"It is God's will

asked if it was right to subject Suhair to FGM

"Yes of course,

People here are used to i

circumcision, girls are full of lust

Hidden death toll

"We were four sisters, and we were circumcised in one day

Afterwards they gave us food and drinks."

Gypsies used to carry out the circumcisions, she told us, placing dust and salt on the wounds

70% of FGM procedures in Egypt.

"It's perceived as being safer, but no-one learns how to do this at medical school. We should definitely assume more girls are dying as Suhair did,

his is a form of violence against children”

private clinic in his home.

dozen procedures carried out there every day.

enied performing FGM on Suhair and said he had only treated her for genital warts.

Dr Halawa on trial, together with Suhair's father, who brought her to his clinic

FGM is hard to quash

"The case has started a debate among the liberal-minded," said Mohamed Ismail, who works for a local women's rights organisation.

A thousand or so girls were circumcised after she died."

plans to have the curly-haired infant circumcised, by a doctor, when she reaches her teens

"In the past there was ignorance,

brought barbers to their homes to circumcise girls.

we are more modern

Campaigners warn that it will take more than one prosecution to spare other girls. More on This Story

they just turn up at the doctor's office with their daughters.

This is a form of violence against children,"

"It's an irreversible act. There are mental and physical scars that stay with the girl for a lifetime."

only one opponent of FGM in Suhair's village

"It's a very bad thing for girls," said Amira. "There's no need for it. It's wrong because it's dangerous."

he problem is the mentality of the farmers."

still easy to arrange.

Egypt: Deadly risks, but female genital mutilation persists