Woman denies aiding the genital mutilation of a three-year-old girl as court hears the child was taken to Kenya for the procedure

From the Daily Mail

A woman accused of aiding the genital mutilation of a three-year-old girl in 2006 pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.

Amina Noor, 38, allegedly took the three-year-old girl to Kenya where the procedure to remove the child’s clitoris was performed. Noor appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court wearing a purple hijab and a blue surgical face mask.

She is charged with aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring a non-UK citizen to mutilate the genitals of a UK female citizen, between January 13, 2006 and April 2, 2007.

Prosecutor Jason Seetal told the court Noor took the victim to Kenya, where the procedure was performed. ‘It was a type 1 female genital mutilation which involves the removal of the entire clitoris.’ Noor, originally from Kenya, was granted UK citizenship in 2005, the court heard.

Stuart Harris, defending, said while Noor accepted she took the child to Kenya: ‘She did not know exactly what was happening to her or what had been arranged.’

He indicated a not guilty plea on her behalf.

Noor was granted unconditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on December 12.