BREAKING: Khalid Adem Guilty in Female Circumcision Case
This just in from CNN about Khalid Adem, the dad accused of mutilating one of his daughters so as not to bring “shame” on his family. The bastard is guilty, guilty, guilty. Adem could get up to 40 years in prison for the assault. The dad has been insisting that he never did it, and that he considers the custom from his native Ethiopia abhorrent. The jury, it seems, has concluded that he’s full of shit.
Here’s a picture of Adem, weeping over how ineffectual of a liar he is.
Once again, it’s too bad the US legal system doesn’t support punishment in kind. Looks like we’ll have to settle for a lifelong jail term on this one.
Tags: Abuse, africa, child, children, daughter, ethiopia, family, father, female-circumcision, gential-mutilation, georgia, lawrenceville, lawrenceville-and-parentsabuse, parentsRelated Stories
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26 opinions for BREAKING: Khalid Adem Guilty in Female Circumcision Case
Rhea
Nov 1, 2006 at 2:31 pm
He considers the custom abhorrent. Then, how did it happen to her?
DRG
Nov 1, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Something doesn’t add up here; the mother said the child was cut when she was 2, but she didn’t discover it until a YEAR LATER. A 2-year old still needs diapers sometimes, not to mention bathing. How is it possible for such a wound not to be apparent until a year later? The kid would be screaming every time she had to urinate, until it healed. She’d be bleeding all over the place. How can they say the mother had nothing to do with it and didn’t know?????
Kate
Nov 1, 2006 at 11:41 pm
I agree, something doesn’t add up, but I would suspect the missing piece is domestic abuse.
The Zero Boss
Nov 1, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Or she knew all along, and kept silent for cultural or personal reasons. Then, she brought it up in the divorce - either by her own initiative, or at the urging of her lawyer.
silverside
Nov 2, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I’m always a little puzzled that when allegations occur shortly before a divorce that they’re automatically discounted. It would be perfectly logical that as you discovered abuse, infidelity, etc., you’re first impulse would be to file. I also have a hard time to believe that you would see no signs of trauma or pain in a two-year-old child at all, even if your kid happened to be totally potty trained. Still, if domestic abuse was part of this relationship, I’m glad she found the inner strength to speak up, get out, and protect her daughter in the future.
ethiopian
Nov 3, 2006 at 8:39 am
I am an Ethiopian woman. My mother is a pharmacist and I grew up far from practices of female genital mutilation (FGM). I grew up in Addis Ababa, same city as Khalid Adem, where the practice of FGM is not something you hear about. I’m a Seven Sisters feminist.
My thoughts on this case : the guy didn’t do it.
The story doesn’t add up.
1. How can the woman not notice her daughter’s bleeding, hurting at the age of 2? Who changed her diapers?
2. The whole concept of FGM is a ‘girl’s rites’. Mothers and grandmothers do it. A man, a Muslim man, cannot touch his daughter’s genitals. If they’re claiming he did it, then they shouldn’t try the case as FGM. It is something else.
3. The guy grew up in Addis. Give me a break.
4. They’re going through a bitter divorce. Give me a break.
5. The kid remembered she was cut, and more specifically by her father, at the age of 2? If somebody keeps telling me I was cut, possibly by my father, I’m sure I’ll remember my ‘circumcision’ too. I think it’s a shame that the girl is being used as an instrument to hurt her father.
Finally, I think it is a shame that the laws of the US can be so blind and biased when it comes to certain subjects. Some interest groups are eager to see somebody punished for FGM, and they’ve found Khalid. What better victim than a Muslim African man? This particular fight has lost its meaning - to borrow a term from a renowned US feminist, it’s a war against boys. Feminism and rights of women should be for the advancement of women, and not to beat on men.
In my area Ethiopians are getting together to see how we can help to have this case re-tried. I’m Christian and one place we hope to target are chruch communities.
If any Muslim or other/non-religious Ethiopian is reading this message, please try to contact the Ethiopian community in Atlanta. Visit Ethiopian discussion forums or bring it up in your community. FGM has to stop, but not by using false tokens. We can’t say Khalid Adem’s innocent, but we can clearly see that the trial’s too fishy. Help a Habesha.
hope
Nov 3, 2006 at 2:08 pm
http://freekhalidadem.blogspot.com/
please show your support at khalid adem blog. where is the justice. They jailed the innocent guy.
samuel
Nov 3, 2006 at 10:47 pm
shame on the jury,the story dosen’t add up at all.i think she made this all up,becouse he left her for another women,yoall know how women be evil some times!
Tsedey M.
Nov 8, 2006 at 1:26 am
I think the writer “Ethiopian” says it all, thank u for giving people a perpective on what is done or not in Ethiopia. I am a WOMAN who strongly opposes the practive of FGM - the law in its interpretation should be clear as to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt that Kahlid did do it - the answer is he didn’t.
I am sure both parents may have consented to having their daughter circumcised when she was a baby, but bringing this up as a major issue in a divorce case is CHEAP!!! Yes, US Courts need to send a strong message to immigrants who do practice FGM but this man should not be the sacrificial lamb. 10 YEARS is a lot - and no jury should have the right to take and destroy a man’s life without proving HE DID IT, as I said before - BEYOUND A RESONABLE DOUBT.
People from all nations flock to the U.S. because it has a semblance of a free and just society - atleast on paper, so AMERICANS let us beleive in your dream - prove that he is GUILTY - beyond a reasonable doubt - that is all we ask!!!
Tadyos
Nov 10, 2006 at 8:36 am
There is no doubt that genital mutilation should be severly punished. In Mr Adem’s case,however, we have not seen unarguable evidence that this has been committed by the father. After their unhealthy divorce, his former wife openly threathned him that “she will have him sent to jail at all cost”. The judges refused to receive the threat evidences he proposed and the jury decided in biased manner. Free Adem! He isnot guilty!
jen
Nov 10, 2006 at 8:52 am
I am a strong believer that Khalid was set up. I’ve followed this case closely. It was all about revenge.
This case if full of loopholes
- How can a mother and a grandmother (whos is a nurse) who both cared for this child not know that the child was circumcised?
- She was circumcised when she was 2 years old. I can imagine this is a painful process and that it takes quite sometime to heal. I am assuming that some sort of treatment was done to heal the wound and stop the bleeding… how did the mother/grandmother not see it? How can a mother/grandmother as a care giver know this … especiallywhile they are changing her diaper or cleaning her!!!
- Why did it take the mother so long to come forward with this issue once she found out (2years after the fact) . - Why only during custody battle did she bring it up? - Circumsion is also practiced among the Zulu in South Africa where the wife emigrated from. Why was this not taken into considerartion?
- How can a 2 year old remember that her father used sicissors to do the act? - The mother claims that the father told her that the child should be circumsed …. so what action did you take as a mother with this kind of comment? If you know your husband has a strong opion on FGM wouldn’t you be on the look out and check your daughter frequently …. she claims she had no say!!!!! and here she is living in the United States claiming she didn’t have a right… why didn’t she inform the social services!
This was a set up during trial Khalid mentioned his ex-wife supposedly called him over for “dinner” along with many of her family members and confronted him in front of the family. So this sounds like the parents instead collaborated on this act.
People that have read this case strongly believe that the mother/grandmother had a part to play in this case.
Khalid (who is now serving his 10yr sentence) has family across the US. His sisters/friends were on the local radio stations in DC yesterday …. and they mentioned that Khalid and his hatefulex-wife were going through a nasty custody battle and which ended up in a revenge. They all spoke sobbing on the radioabout Khalid.
The mother also claims that Khalid married her only to get his legal paperwork (greencard) through her. She now believes this was the only reason he wanted to marry her and that this was her way of getting even with him.
It is highly questionable that the mother is “innocent” and that she has no knowledgew of this crime and instead accuse her ex-husand and set herself free.
Khalid’s background and profile does not fit the crime.
Messi
Nov 10, 2006 at 8:57 am
because Basing on the fact that the child was only two years old when she was circumcised, it would make sense that her mother was still bathing and cleaning her, or even noticing that there is something definately wrong with her child. For her to claim that she realised it after a year, is an absolute lie. I think the divorced mother is the guilty one here.
Enas
Nov 10, 2006 at 9:01 am
How any mother could fail to notice something as painful as a circumcision on her daughter for 2 years is beyond me and to think that a court would believe her accusation of the father doing it without her knowledge is even more astonishing
Emy
Nov 10, 2006 at 9:03 am
I believe the child was coached to think her father circumcised her.
Taha
Nov 21, 2006 at 3:40 pm
I am lossing hope to believe the American law and court system. It is impossible for the guy to do such a thing. He needs to have retrial not appeal.
Carol
Nov 24, 2006 at 5:56 pm
I think Khalid is guilty!! When he took the stand Homey said he has only been alone with his child for 30 seconds in the 3yrs of he life. Yeah! Right! but he claims to be a good dad.. So when did he get the time to be a good dad if he has been with the child for no more than 30 seconds!!! Bull Shit.. He said he has only changed her diapers 4 times in the 3 years of her life..Your Kidding me Khalid! he even stated that he has never gave her a bath.. The liar could not even tell the truth about his age.. first he is 34yrs than 31yrs than he said he was 30yrs old. And his supporters saw the whole thing and they are still proclaimin his innocence… Get a Life!! I hope they cut his damn genitals off!
Solomon
Nov 25, 2006 at 12:14 am
Hi Carol i don’t think you have full infromation about this that’s why you said like this ok. you know someting the time you mention in the above Khalid is not with his child he don’t have a vistation right for three years or more on it’s own doguter so how do think at this time without visiting making like changing diapers and bath…
so i think you are bull shit!!! on this case so pls make good investigation before you jugue “you edite!!!
Vote for the Worst Parent of 2006 - from Parents Behaving Badly by Jay Andrew Allen
Dec 28, 2006 at 2:02 pm
[…] Khalid Adem. Friends and supporters insists he was railroaded, but a jury of his peers found him guilty of forcibly circumcising his daughter. […]
KR O'Day
Dec 28, 2006 at 6:02 pm
It seems very sad to me that everything that happens to anyone is supposed to somehow be their mother’s fault. As I have read the foregoing posts, researched the history of this case, and with a background including psychology, the following thoughts occur to me:
1. It is being asserted that the child cannot possibly remember what happened to her, having only been 2 years old at the time. However, in discussing childhood memories with many people, I have found that the earliest childhood memory is at an age prior to, or at least about, two years old, and these are usually non-traumatic memories. I would imagine that major trauma would be either very memorable, or, a lack of memory would be due to the mind of the child blocking it out as too overwhelming–either way not being a matter of “too young to remember”.
2. It has been said that the mother should have been aware of the injury, because of diapering, baths, and/or bleeding. Perhaps. However, two possibilities exist here. The child, at two years old, may not have still been in diapers. Also, many mothers are hesitant about touching or examining the genitals of their babies. I have known mothers who would have been aware of the sexual abuse, and subsequent injuries, of their children had they taken a look at the genitals. But when questioned about it, they seem horrified at the idea of doing such. Also, it is questionable as to how much the child might have bled, or as to how painful the procedure might have been in healing. When animals are declawed, disbudded, tattooed, have their ears cropped or tails docked, etc., at an early age, there is a lot of pain during the procedure, but not a lot of pain, or bleeding, during the healing process.
3. If the mother was the person responsible, as an act of revenge, why would she have waited two years to use it against the father? Or admitted she was unaware of the event for that length of time? She would have done it, then blamed him, and said she noticed it right away.
4. The mother and father purportedly argued about the child being circumsized. Although a mother may ordinarily be the one to conduct such a ritual, perhaps the father took it upon himself since the mother refused?
5. There is an assumption that the intent was to circumsize the child, but perhaps the father had an obsession regarding the child’s potential sexuality, so used the “need” of such as a rationale to sexually mutilate her?
6. All of the statistics I have found state that FGM is practiced frequently in Ethiopia, contrary to what has been stated here by some of those posting here.
7. The grandmother, as someone possibly experienced in circumsion, is a likely culprit. It is stated that a pair of scisscors was used in the mutulation. It is my understanding that this would be a very unusual instrument of choice, especially for someone who might be versed in the procedure, and, as a nurse, or midwife, would certainly have access to something more traditional or sophisticated.
8. It has been said that the father is “too nice a person”, or too remorseful, to possibly be guilty. I have heard the same said of many criminals, up to and including rapists, serial killers, etc.
9. Given the bias against women, especially mothers, in our culture, particularly apparent in our legal system, I would say the evidence against this man must have been pretty conclusive to have convicted him. Hopefully, there will come a day when determining one’s guilt by virtue of their gender is not the primary criteria.
~KRO
KR O'Day
Dec 28, 2006 at 6:05 pm
An error in my post, point #7: I meant to say that it has been said that the grandmother is a likely culprit. It was not my intention to claim she is a likely culprit.
~KRO
CHW1981
Jan 10, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I dont give a crap about where a person is from or what their culture is. The fact that someone can harm any child in that way is sick beyond sick, Nobody should ever touch a child like that, I hope this stupid fuck gets the everliving shit kicked out of him while in jail!!!!!!!And how fucking dumb is the mother!!
mateymoo
Mar 12, 2007 at 2:05 am
Tadyos and all: my sister had a medical doctor mutilate the genitals of all three of her sons. they hurt, they cried, they bled, and she had to touch their genitals several times a day to clean and medicate them. GIVE HER THIRTY YEARS!!!!
how many of the people that have posted here have had their sons genitally mutilated…er…i mean circumcised? are the prosecuting lawyers victims of the same mutilation? the judge? boy OR girl, they both need to be outlawed and prosecuted. i’ve seen it done…it’s not pretty.
YOUR story11
Mar 13, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I can’t get over what this man did! I researched this horrible culture that degrades women. and according to where this crazy man is from.. His Ethiopian people are on a mutilation spree. over 90% of the Ethiopian women are walking around without there genitals. that is like 4 out of 5. and it is happening all over this country don’t let people fool you if they say it no longer happens.. It is real! and it is so sad. lack of knowledge and education since the women are oppressed. I guess I would be embarrassed and humiliated to if I came from such a terrible culture. I understand why Ethiopians appear to be so offensive about female genital mutilation.
I just want to know how come the father did not notice when he changed diapers? You mean to tell me that he never changed his daughter? and if so.. What is this comment made about muslim men don’t look at there daughters genitals? So are you telling me that muslim men don’t change diapers? only a sick father would say he can’t look at a newborn babygirls genitals. Is he thinking of harming her if he has to bathe her or clean her? Give me a break! It looks like most of these people on here are supporters of this crazy man. What about the victim here the child and her mother. I read that the mother is not circumsised and that she voluntarly took an OB/GYN test to prove that she is not mutilated.. My question is how can someone practice something that was never done to her and the women from her country? How is it that the crazy fathers mother and sisters are all mutilated. Why does this poor American born child have genitals that resemble women from Ethiopia? Stop trying to cover for the sick Bastard his peers found him guilty for a reason. and that reason is HE IS GUILTY!!! I pray that his dick will be mutilated in Jail. 10yrs was a slap on the face. He should have been given the full 40yrs for altering this childs genitals. Sick! Sick! Sick cultures in this world. Shame on the people who practice cutting out little girls genital.. Shame!
hjafenezzb
Jul 3, 2007 at 7:52 am
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just a girl
Jul 10, 2007 at 9:50 am
great site. i dont know enough to speak on this case– but i would like to say that just because a jury of his peers found him guilty– doesnt mean he is.
a jury of O.J.’s peers found him NOT GUILTY and i dont think there is a person on the planet that doesnt know he is guilty.
debbiet
Jul 21, 2007 at 6:20 am
Some of the people who think Khalid is guilty have not looked at the whole story. He and his wife lived with her family when together. Then they lived apart for about two years, and he did not get to be with his little girl, and apparently was not left alone with her. The mother’s accusation is that he did the mutilation when they were still together, but - oops - she didn’t notice! A doctor noticed it when it was healed - yeah, right. Let me see, do you think that it could have been done and healed in the years they were apart? DUH! Don’t let the emotional reaction to this terrible thing overrule the facts and the likelihood. No one is supporting the female circumcision just because they believe the wrong person has been found guilty. No one is on a mother-bashing trip just because. The evidence points to mommy and grandma.
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