Excerpt:
A couple from a small Islamic sect who were charged over the genital mutilation of their young daughters have appeared in court this morning - but their lawyer was at pains to explain their case had nothing to do with religion.
The man, a GP, and his wife, who both can't be identified for legal reasons, were arrested and charged earlier this month over the "female circumcision" of their daughters - aged six and seven.
Their lawyer John Sutton told Parramatta Court the pair belonged to a "very small religious order", but the allegations had nothing to do with their faith.