In a move that could revive Detroit’s historic female genital mutilation prosecution, Congress has intervened in the case, saying the Department of Justice gave up too easily on the law that makes the cutting practice illegal.

Months after a federal judge in Detroit declared the law unconstitutional, the DOJ announced last month it would not appeal the decision because it concluded the 1996 FGM statute was too weak to defend.

Several congressional leaders disagree and have intervened in the case, hoping to convince an appeals court that the law is valid and can pass constitutional muster. If successful, this would allow prosecutors in Detroit to take two doctors and six others to trial for allegedly subjecting nine minor girls to FGM, including some who cried, bled and screamed during the procedure.

Congress fights to save historic female genital mutilation case – Detroit Free Press