Ukip announces plan for mandatory FGM checks on 'at risk' girls
The plan comes a day after Paul Nuttall calls for a burqa ban
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ukip has announced plans for mandatory annual medical checks for girls in "at-risk minority" groups in a bid to stop female genital mutilation in Britain.
The party’s policy announcement on FGM, which is illegal in the UK, comes after the party pledged to ban the burqa from being worn in public in its general election manifesto for June’s vote.
Pledging to launch an "integration agenda", party leader Paul Nuttall, who failed to win a parliamentary seat earlier this year, said the burqa and niqab were barriers to social harmony.
And the party’s education spokesperson David Kurten said that until there was "better integration" in Britain "there should be a moratorium on new Islamic schools".
The latest initiative, which would see girls given medical examinations in schools, comes after Mr Nuttall called on Sunday for a ban on wearing burkas in public.
"I don't believe you can integrate fully and enjoy the fruits of British society if you can't see people's faces," he said.
He also said Sharia law should be banned in the UK to prevent the development of a "parallel legal system".
Mr Nuttall said the launch of Ukip's "integration" policies was a "message of positivity" and "not designed to sow the seeds of division".
According to the policy, if voted into power Ukip would "implement school-based medical checks on girls from groups at high risk of suffering FGM. These should take place annually and whenever they return from trips overseas".
In addition, it would "make failure to report an instance of FGM by someone who has knowledge that it has taken place a criminal offence itself".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments