Egypt toughens penalties for female genital mutilation; activists remain sceptical By Menna A. Farouk - 26 April 2021 Most of the 28 countries in Africa where FGM is endemic have banned FGM, although enforcement is generally weak. Image: 123RF/ ammentorp Egypt has toughened penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM), imposing prison terms of up to 20 years in a push to end the ancient practice. It is the second time Egypt's parliament has cracked down on FGM - which typically involves the removal of a girl's external genitalia - but activists remain sceptical about enforcement in a country where cutting is deep-rooted and widespread.