A French couple in La Roche-sur-Yon was prosecuted for attempting to force their 15-year-old daughter into a virginity test after discovering she had a boyfriend
Couple Faces Prosecution Over Virginity Test for Daughter
A couple has been prosecuted for attempting to force their 15-year-old daughter into a virginity test with a gynecologist. They claimed they wanted to “make sure everything was alright” after discovering she had a boyfriend.
The girl, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, testified in court that her father struck her multiple times in March 2025 after learning about her boyfriend. He then demanded the medical examination.
Legal Consequences for Parents
Public Prosecutor Sarah Huet from La Roche-sur-Yon, France, stated that the teenager’s mother received a three-month suspended prison sentence for “inciting a minor to submit to an examination intended to prove her virginity.” The father faced the same charge and an additional charge for “failure of a parent to fulfill their legal obligations.”
The father, a professional boxer, also faced charges for “violence without causing injury.” He received a six-month suspended sentence and two years’ probation. He argued that the examination would have been a benign medical procedure.
Parental Defense and Court Statements
He claimed, “I ordered to take her to the gynaecologist to make sure there wasn’t a problem.” His wife defended him, saying he lost control because their daughter “hid things from us even though we trusted her.”
Ms. Huet informed the court that “the intention alone is enough” for the virginity test. She stated, “The violence in no way constitutes parental discipline.”
Teen’s Reaction and Medical Prohibition
When her parents told her about the examination, the teen reportedly suffered a panic attack and fainted. In France, a medical examination to verify virginity is completely prohibited. The gynecologist declined to perform the procedure when approached by the girl’s parents.
Government and Health Organization Stance
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned “virginity tests” in February 2020 as part of a campaign against “Islamist separatism.” He stated, “In the Republic, one cannot require certificates of virginity to get married.”
The World Health Organization supported his stance, noting that “virginity testing” lacks scientific basis, breaches human rights, and can cause harm. A coalition of French healthcare professionals criticized the practice as “barbaric, backward and totally sexist.”
| Parent | Charges | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Mother | Inciting a minor to submit to an examination | 3-month suspended sentence |
| Father | Inciting a minor, failure of parental obligations, violence without injury | 6-month suspended sentence, 2 years probation |
