Couple arrested for subjecting their three-year-old to female circumcision

The National Police have arrested a 38-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman in Elche (Alicante) on suspicion of committing a serious injury crime after discovering evidence that their daughter, a minor under the age of three, had undergone genital surgery that resulted in irreversible injuries.

The matter was brought to the attention of the National Police in Elche after a request from the Court of First Instance and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, as well as a report written by professionals at the city’s health centre.

According to the report, during a normal medical check of the three-year-old girl, scarring physical indicators were discovered that may match to a traditional technique known as female genital mutilation, which is still practised in several African countries.

The educational and healthcare personnel conducted the evaluation as part of routine medical procedures, without any prior suspicions. The minor arrived in Spain in May 2024 and was legally residing with her parents.

The National Police investigation revealed that during the minor’s care and interviews with the parents, the father admitted that the intervention on the child occurred within the framework of a cultural belief but did not provide specific details about the time or location of the intervention.

However, every piece of evidence gathered by police officials suggested that the act occurred outside of Spain. The inquiry also helped investigators identify the offenders, allowing them to locate and arrest the couple in Elche. The two arrested are being probed for a crime involving serious bodily harm. Both appeared before the Elche Duty Investigative Court.

The National Police warn everyone that any act that violates the physical or moral integrity of minors is a serious breach of Spanish law, regardless of the culprits’ cultural or personal backgrounds.

Child protection is ensured by national legislation and international treaties that Spain has signed. Respect for cultural and religious traditions must always be tempered by adherence to Human Rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of 1948.

States have a commitment to protect the well-being, safety, and dignity of all minors, without exception.