Australia: Judge changes verdict after call to FGM from religious sect leader

Originally judge Johnson sentenced Shabbir Mohammedbhai Vaziri to 11 months home detention for covering the offence.

A few months ago the leader of a religious sect. called "Dawoodi Bohra", has become the first person to be convicted for FGM in Australia. Originally judge Johnson  sentenced  Shabbir Mohammedbhai Vaziri to 11 months home detention for covering up the mutilation.

Following the conviction the sect’s headquarters in India sent out edicts to followers telling them to stop FGM. But this happened only in those countries, where FGM is illegal.

In India where FGM is still legal, the world leader, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, clarified that FGM should be performed on their daughters, saying it was a “religious obligation”.

The sermon made judge Johnson change his mind!

The Judge says : “a strong message should be sent to male Dawoodi Bohra religious leaders that criminal acts such as those committed by the offender Mr Vaziri for the purposes of covering up the performance of khatna and deflect a police investigation of FGM offences ought to be met by sentences of full-time imprisonment.”

FGM is a crime and must be punished! Raise your voice against FGM!    

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