Haarlem -- The 30-year-old man accused of circumcising his daughter was acquitted Friday, reports the ANP.

There was not enough evidence to prove Mustapha El M. actually cut the girl, the Haarlem court said in an early ruling.

El M.’s trial lasted a little over a week.

Mustapha El M. of Moroccan descent was arrested October 2008 after his daughter told her foster mother that he had cut her. A medical examination showed her clitoris and labia minora are partly missing.

Public prosecutor M. Lengers had demanded a six-year sentence if El M. was convicted.

However, El M. maintained his innocence throughout the trial, which began 2 September.

He referred to what happened to the child as a “sadistic, sickening act” and said he doesn't want the one who did this to get away with it.

The man, convicted earlier of physically abusing his daughter, served his 3-month sentence while awaiting his genital mutilation trial.

The public prosecutor will appeal the decision, according to a report on nu.nl.

Jennifer Evans / Expatica