According to the French News Agency (AFP), a Gambian couple were on Friday, charged by the Norwegian  police for subjecting five of their daughters to female genital mutilation in the country's first-ever case against the illegal act of female circumcision.     

"The father and mother are accused under the Norwegian laws on genital mutilation. They are suspected of taking part in the circumcision of five of their six daughters," Hanne Kristin Rohde, a police official told NRK radio.

The AFP news report also indicated that only two of the six children who are aged between 3 and 14 live in Norway, although others -- who live in The Gambia, with the husband's two other wives -- have Norwegian passports. These include a three-year old who has not yet been circumcised.
 
Rohde made it clear that Norway's Child Protection Agency would be entrusted with caring for all the children.    

Their father, 41, whose identity has not been disclosed, is expected to appear before a judge to face the charge. But their mother, who is expected to give birth to a seventh child, is said to be too weak to be kept behind bars.

Rohde said Norwegian laws are against female genital mutilation and the offence carry a prison term of several years, depending on the severity of the crime.   

It could be recalled that Norway banned female circumcision with the enactment of a law in 1996, which sets a prison term of three years for anyone who carries out female genital mutilation and up to eight years, if the mutilation results to death or severe health damage.

In 2004, an amendment required schools and health personnel to alert authorities on case involving female circumcision.