STAGGERING.
ACCORDING TO CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL, AT LEAST, HALF A
MILLION WOMEN IN U.S. HAVE
UNDERGONE GENITAL MUTILATION OR
FUTURE.
>> ACCORDING TO FEDS WE HAVE
SEEN IN RECENT CHARGES HAPPENING
TO GIRLS AS YOUNG AS SEVEN HERE
IN DETROIT.
OUR SANDRA WALKS US THROUGH THE
CASE UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: NO ONE ANSWERED
THE DOOR AT THIS DOCTOR'S
NORTHVILLE HOME.
44-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR THAT IS NOW
HERE.
FROM THE OUTSIDE THIS LOOKS LIKE
ANY REGULAR CLINIC.
BUT WHAT WAS ALLEGEDLY HAPPENING
INSIDE OF THE MEDICAL CENTER IN
LIVONIA IS NOW AT THE CENTER OF
A FULL BLOWN FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION.
AND SURROUNDING DOCTORS THAT
HAVE BEEN ALLEGEDLY CUTTING
OLD.
>> THESE ARE PHYSICIANS AND THIS
IS A HORRIBLE THING BEING
PERPETRATED BY PHYSICIANS.
>> Reporter: THE CASE CENTERS
AROUND THE TABU RITUAL OF FEMALE
GENITAL MUTILATION.
TRADITION WITH DEEP RELIGIOUS
ROOTS HAPPENING FOR DECADES.
AND IT IS ILLEGAL AND FOR THE
MOST PART, NOW OUTLAWED AROUND
THE WORLD EXCEPT IN COUNTRIES
LIKE SOMALIA ETHIOPIA AND SUDAN
WHERE IT IS HAPPENING TODAY.
>> 98 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN IN
SUDAN ARE CIRCUMCISED.
96 ARE SOMALIAN.
94 PERCENT ETHIOPIAN.
>> Reporter: SHE HAS BEEN
RESEARCHING AND WRITING ABOUT
GENITAL MUTILATION FOR 20 YEARS.
>> I AM OUTRAGED.
>> Reporter: FIRST OF ITS KIND
FEDERAL PROSECUTION AUTHORITIES
CHARGED THREE PEOPLE THAT ALL
WORKED AT THE CLINIC FOR THEIR
ALLEGED ROLES IN GENITAL
GIRLS.
AND APRIL 12, AUTHORITIES
ARRESTED THE DOCTOR AND ACCUSED
OF CUTTING THE GIRLS.
THEN ON APRIL 2 TWO MORE
ARRESTS.
A DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE.
DOCTOR ATAR ACCUSED OF LETTING
THIS DOCTOR TO USE THE CLINIC TO
DO PROCEDURES AND WIFE ALLEGEDLY
HELD THE GIRLS HANDS TO COMFORT
THEM AS OF IT HAPPENING.
CAMERA.
SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WORK NEAR
THE CLINIC SAY THEY SAW PEOPLE
COMING AND GOING AT ALL HOURS OF
THE NIGHT.
AND WELL AFTER THE CLINIC WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED.
>> REALLY ADULTS HARMING
CHILDREN IS HOW WE LONG AT IT.
SO, YES YOU HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE
TO CULTURES.
AND DIFFERENT PRACTICES.
ABOUT.
AND THIS IS REALLY CROSSING THE
LINE IS BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
COURT DOCUMENTS THE DOCTORS AND
HIS WIFE ALL BELONG TO A SMALL
INDIAN COMMUNITY MUSLIMS.
AND MEMBERS OF THE GROUP BELIEVE
GENITAL CUTTING IS A SOCIAL RITE
OF PASSAGE.
SECRET RITUAL WHEN A GIRL IS
TRANSFORMED INTO A WOMAN.
AND EXPERTS LIKE UDEEN SAID DONE
BY VILLAGE ELDERS TO CURVE A
WOMAN'S SEXUALITY.
>> THESE ARE LIES THAT THESE
GIRLS ARE RAISED WITH.
>> Reporter: IN THIS CASE
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE TWO
YOUNG GIRLS CAME TO MICHIGAN
WITH THEIR MOTHERS.
THINKING THEY WOULD TAKE A
SPECIAL GIRLS TRIP AND ENDED UP
CUT.
DOING HARM.
AND VERY QUESTIONABLE, IF ANY
BENEFIT, IS WHERE THE ETHICAL
ISSUE COMES UP IN THIS CASE.
>> I WANT TO BET IT HAPPENS MORE
THAN WE KNOW.
>> Reporter: SAY DEGREW UP IN
A VILLAGE IN SENEGAL.
PRACTICE OUTLAWED THERE SINCE
80s BUT REMEMBERS A TIME
BEFORE THAT.
WHEN YOUNG GIRL WERE TOLD TO
KEEP THE RITUAL ASECRET.
>> PEOPLE ARE VERY ATTACHED TO
THEIR IDENTITIES.
AND THEIR CULTURAL PRACTICES.
AND THAT'S VERY ENGRAINED INTO
HUMAN BEINGS.
AND IF WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
TODAY AND SHOCKING SO MANY.
IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN
IMAGINE IT IN THEIR OWN CULTURE.
THEY CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
AND IT IS SO COMPLICATED AND SO
PAINFUL SOMETIMES TO TALK ABOUT.
>> Reporter: DOCTOR ATAR AND
HIS WIFE EXPECTED IN FEDERAL
COURT TOMORROW.
IF CONVICTED THE DOCTOR COULD
GET LIFE IN PRISON.
THERE.
WE WILL HEAR MORE AS THIS CASE
UNFOLDS.
>> Anchor: IF YOU MISSED IT
CONVERSATION ON THIS TOPIC LAST