Woman, 39, denies aiding in the female genital mutilation of a young girl in Kenya

A woman accused of aiding the genital mutilation of a young girl in Kenya has pleaded not guilty during a hearing at the Old Bailey. 

Amina Noor, 39, allegedly took the child – aged between three and four – to Kenya at some point between January 13, 2006  and April 2, 2007, where the procedure was performed.

Noor is charged with aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a non-UK citizen to mutilate the genitals of a UK female citizen.

The procedure was a ‘type-1 female genital mutilation which involves the entire removal of the clitoris’, the court heard. 

Amina Noor, 39, allegedly took the child to her former home country of Kenya to under go the procedure between January 2006 and April 2007 – she denies the allegation

Noor appeared at the Old Bailey (pictured) on Thursday wearing a headscarf and aided by a Somali translator as she spoke to confirm her name and deny the charge

Originally from Kenya, Noor was granted UK citizenship in 2005.

She appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday wearing a headscarf and aided by a Somali translator as she spoke to confirm her name and deny the charge.

Stuart Harris, defending, earlier said she accepted the fact she took the child to Kenya, but ‘did not know exactly what was happening or what had been arranged.’

During today’s plea hearing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC confirmed the case would be heard by a High Court judge at the same court.

Noor, of Edgware, northwest London, was granted unconditional bail ahead of her two-week trial at the Old Bailey on 16 October this year.

She faces a further preliminary hearing on 14 April.

The alleged victim, who is a UK citizen, cannot be identified for legal reasons.