Ghana Woman Released after Fleeing Genital Mutilation

By VERENA DOBNIK, AP

INS Releases Woman Who Fled Ghana

NEW YORK (AP),  A woman detained by U.S. immigration officials after fleeing Ghana two years ago to avoid forced genital mutilation has been released on parole.

Although yesterday's action by the Immigration and Naturalization Service doesn't win Adelaide Abankwah legal entry into the United States, it does allow her to remain free while awaiting a final INS decision on her request for amnesty.   The 29-year-old woman won a federal appeals court victory last week blocking the INS from deporting her before it makes that decision.

An official with Equality Now, an international human rights group that publicized Ms. Abankwah's case, said she was thrilled with Monday's decision but wants the INS to expedite her asylum claim.

``We want the whole thing to be over with as soon as possible.  She has lost so much time,'' said Jessica Neuwirth, the group's president.

Ms. Abankwah was not immediately available for comment.  Ms. Abankwah was arrested when she arrived in the United States on March 29, 1997, fleeing her isolated tribe of about 400 people.  She told immigration officials that she feared village leaders would order her killed or that she undergo genital mutilation because she violated tribal customs by losing her virginity.  The precedent for recognizing genital mutilation in amnesty rulings was established in the case by Fauziya Kassindja, who fled from Togo hours before she was to be cut.

After she reached the United States, she was imprisoned for 16 months but ultimately won a landmark 1996 asylum ruling in which the INS recognizes female genital mutilation as a form of persecution.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, is sponsoring a bill that would formalize gender persecution as a reason for granting amnesty.

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