No bond for Michigan doctor accused of performing female genital mutilation

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala accused of perfoming FGM at Livonia clinic

Dr. Jumana Nagarwala in court April 18, 2017. (Sketch by Jerry Lemenu)

DETROIT – A Metro Detroit doctor was in court Monday where a judge denied her bond as she's accused of performing genital mutilation procedures.

Doctor Jumana Nagarwala is charged with performing the procedure on two 7-year-old girls from Minnesota. An attorney for Nagarwala admitted to her doing the procedures, but she insists that it is nothing more than a religious practice for Muslim families and that she has done nothing wrong.

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The lawyer said that Nagarwala did not cut the girls, but removed the membrane from the girls' genitals. 

The judge considered Nagarwala to be a flight risk and therefore denied her bond. 

MORE: Victims of Detroit doctor charged with FGM told they were going on ‘special girl's trip'

Nagarwala is an emergency department physician at a Detroit hospital and is employed by Henry Ford Health System. She was placed on administrative leave last week, the organiation announced.

"We were shocked by the allegations," Henry Ford Health System said in statement last week. "The alleged criminal activity did not occur at any Henry Ford facility. We would never support or condone anything related to this practice. The doctor has immediately been placed on administrative leave."

Nagarwala does not work at the Livonia medical clinic where the procedures were performed, according to court documents.

READ: Female genital mutilation: What is it, cultural and social factors