A former PhD student, Emad Kaky, has been jailed for conspiring to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) against a young girl, marking the first conviction of its kind in England and Wales. Kaky, 47, arranged for the child to travel from the UK to Iraq, where he had organized for her to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage.Fortunately, Kaky’s plans were uncovered before the crimes could be executed. A witness intervened, arranging for the victim to travel back to the UK and reporting Kaky to the police. He was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage, charges he denied. Following a ten-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court, he was convicted on 9 September 2024 and subsequently sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment.Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, stated: “Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a young, innocent girl subjected to female genital mutilation and to be forced into a marriage not of her choosing. Had he succeeded in his plans, this child would have suffered unimaginable physical and mental harm.”The prosecution emphasized the severity of Kaky's intended actions, with McKinney highlighting that “the law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society” and that authorities will prosecute individuals who plot such offenses, regardless of whether they succeed.This case required meticulous legal groundwork, as Kaky's defense contended that FGM was not a criminal offense in Iraq. The prosecution had to demonstrate that it was indeed an offense under Iraqi law and that Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales related to the conspiracy. The defense eventually withdrew their argument after evidence was produced supporting FGM's status as a crime in Iraq, enabling the prosecution to proceed.Evidence presented included Kaky's booking and payment of the trip to Iraq while he resided in Nottingham, along with messages retrieved from his phone indicating his intention for the victim to undergo FGM and forced marriage. The prosecution also brought in a cultural expert to explain the significant physical and psychological harm FGM inflicts on victims.During sentencing, the prosecution maintained that despite the failure of Kaky's plan, the harm he intended to inflict on the victim warranted severe repercussions.