House Passes Bill Charging Parents for Genital Mutilation

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota House has passed a bill that would levy
harsh penalties against parents who subject their children to female genital
mutilation.

The legislation was spurred by charges against a Detroit-area doctor who
allegedly performed the procedure on two 7-year-old Minnesota girls. A clinic
manager and his wife were also charged.

The bill would make it a felony for parents to subject their children to the
practice and could strip parental rights. It passed the House nearly unanimously
Monday, with just four Democrats voting against the bill.

But it's unclear whether it will become law this year. The Senate has not yet
held a hearing on the bill with just a week remaining in session.