A couple facing legal action sought to ensure their 15-year-old daughter’s well-being upon discovering her romantic relationship. They attempted to coerce her into a virginity test with a gynaecologist, leading to legal repercussions.
The teenage girl, unnamed for legal protection, testified that her father physically assaulted her in March 2025 upon learning about her boyfriend and then demanded the medical examination.
Prosecutor Sarah Huet disclosed that the girl’s mother received a three-month suspended prison sentence for encouraging the minor to undergo a virginity test. The father faced charges for the same offense and for neglecting parental duties, endangering the child’s welfare.
The father, a professional boxer, also faced charges of non-injurious violence, receiving a six-month suspended sentence with probation. He defended the test as a precautionary medical procedure, stating it was to ensure the daughter’s well-being.
His wife defended his actions, citing frustration over their daughter’s secrecy despite their trust. The prosecutor emphasized that the mere intent of the virginity test was punishable, with no need for actual medical examination, and that the violence did not constitute acceptable parental discipline.
Upon learning of the test, the daughter reportedly suffered a panic attack and fainted. In France, virginity confirmation tests are illegal, and medical professionals are prohibited from conducting such procedures.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned virginity tests in 2020, denouncing them as part of efforts against “Islamist separatism.” The World Health Organization also criticized virginity testing, labeling it unscientific and a violation of human rights.
A group of French medical experts condemned the practice as archaic and sexist, highlighting the persistence of virginity expectations in modern society.