A couple faced legal consequences for pressuring their 15-year-old daughter to undergo a virginity test with a gynaecologist under the guise of checking on her well-being after discovering she had a boyfriend.
The girl, whose identity remains undisclosed, testified that her father physically assaulted her in March 2025 upon learning about her relationship before insisting on the intrusive medical examination.
Prosecutor Sarah Huet revealed that the girl’s mother received a three-month suspended sentence for encouraging the minor to undergo the test, while the father faced charges not only for the same offense but also for neglecting his parental duties, potentially jeopardizing the child’s welfare.
The father, a professional boxer, also faced accusations of non-injurious violence and was handed a six-month suspended sentence with a two-year probation period. He defended his actions, claiming the test was a routine medical procedure to ensure his daughter’s health.
His wife supported him, attributing his outburst to their daughter’s perceived lack of transparency despite their trust in her.
The court emphasized that the intent behind the virginity test was sufficient for legal action, affirming that violence does not align with proper parental discipline.
Upon learning of the impending test, the teenager reportedly suffered a panic attack and lost consciousness.
Virginity tests are illegal in France, and the gynaecologist approached by the parents refused to partake in the examination.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously denounced virginity tests, highlighting their prohibition in the country as part of efforts against extremist practices.
The World Health Organization condemned virginity testing as unscientific, violative of human rights, and potentially harmful to individuals undergoing such procedures.
French medical professionals criticized the practice as archaic and sexist, underscoring the societal persistence of valuing virginity in the modern era.
