Another Detroit doctor and wife arrested in ongoing case of alleged female mutilation by Indian-American physician

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A Detroit physician and his wife were arrested this morning and charged for their alleged participation in a conspiracy that involved performing female genital mutilations (FGM) on minors. They are accused of conspiring with Indian-American physician Jumana Nagarawala, who was arrested April 12 in Detroit and is awaiting trial.

According to news reports, Nagarwala belongs to the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sect of Muslims hailing from India.

Fakhruddin Attar, 53, and his wife, Farida Attar 50, both of Livonia, Michigan, are charged with conspiring to perform female genital mutilations on minor girls out of Fakhruddin Attar’s medical clinic in Livonia. According to the complaint, some of the minor victims traveled interstate to have the procedure performed. The complaint alleges that the FGM procedure was performed on girls who were approximately six to eight years old.

The defendants are alleged to have conspired with Nagarwala, who was arrested in Detroit on April 12, 2017, and ordered detained on April 17, 2017, pending trial. Nagarwala, Fakhruddin Attar and Farida Attar are believed to be the first people charged under 18 U.S.C. 116, which criminalizes FGM.

The FBI’s Detroit Division and HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the Livonia Police Department and with support of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan and the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit, Criminal Investigative Division.

The FBI’s Detroit Field Division has set up a tip line for anyone who has information pertaining to the illegal practice of FGM or Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, Fakhruddin Attar or Farida Attar at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5984). To submit an e-tip, please visit FBI.GOV/FGM.