Prosecutors argued the document should be kept from the public view in order to “protect an ongoing investigation, to protect cooperating witnesses, and to protect the privacy and dignity of the minor victims.”
Dr. Fakhruddin Attar, 53, of Farmington Hills and his wife, Farida Attar, 50, are seeking bond, though the government believes they should remain locked up — an argument that will be further explained in the document that has been ordered sealed.
Dr. Attar is accused of allowing another physician, Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville to use his Livonia medical clinic to perform genital cutting procedures on two Minnesota girls in February. His wife is accused of holding the girls’ hands during the procedure to calm them.
Both doctors and the wife have been jailed for more than a month since being charged in April. Nagarwala has not challenged denial of bond in her case.
The defendants are part of a small Muslim Indian sect known as the Dawoodi Bohra that practices a form of genital cutting in the name of religion. The defendants claim the procedure involves only a nick and not a cut. Prosecutors disagree.
The Attars are seeking bond, arguing they have no criminal history, are not dangerous and have no reason to flee the U.S. as their children are located here and need them.
The government has argued that the Attars are flight risks and have encouraged members of their religious community not to talk to authorities about genital mutilation practices in their community, or to deny the practice happens.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman.
Article Appeared @http://www.freep.com/story/news/2017/06/06/female-genital-cutting-bond/374696001/