Court Eases Asylum Rule for Genital Mutilation

[Rose Siding]

A woman who has been subjected to genital mutilation is automatically eligible for asylum in the United States, the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Thursday.

The decision is the second this week from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that has broadened asylum rights. Earlier, the court ruled in favor of asylum claims for men whose wives were subject to forced sterilizations.
...
"Like forced sterilization, genital mutilation permanently disfigures a woman, causes long-term health problems and deprives her of a normal and fulfilling sexual life," Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote for the court.
Reinhardt, who was appointed to the court by President Carter, was joined in the opinion by Judges David R. Thompson, a Reagan appointee, and Marsha S. Berzon, a Clinton appointee.

Stephen Knight, coordinating attorney at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, said the ruling broke new ground. "No circuit court has held until now that genital cutting represented 'continuing harm,' " he said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-asylum11mar11,1,1899739.story?coll=la-news-politics-national

[Colorado Blue]

1. This is good. There have previous incidents in which

women fleeing their home countries to escape this torture have been detained for years, awaiting a hearing on the possibility of receiving asylum here.

A great thing. I'm glad Americans are finally waking up to this horror.

[annabanana]

2. woof..

"No circuit court has held until now that genital cutting represented 'continuing harm,'

J'ever just want to put someone's nuts in a vise?