<p>The decision to possibly overturn a ban in Gambia on female genital mutilation (FGM) has been postponed after lawmakers called for further consultations, on Monday (Mar 18). This comes as the Gambian members of parliament debated whether to repeal the ban on the procedure, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has no health benefits.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why overturn the ban?</strong></h2>

<p>FGM was outlawed by the small West African nation eight years ago and it is currently punishable by up to three years of imprisonment and hefty fines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bill to overturn this ban was introduced earlier this month by lawmaker Almameh Gibba arguing that it violates the citizens’ right to practice their culture and religion.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-airlines-boeing-737-now-reports-cracks-in-windshield-while-landing-in-portland-701683">Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 now reports crack in windshield while landing in Portland</a></strong></p>

<p>Gibba said that overturning the ban would “uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values”. If passed, Gambia would become the first country to reverse a ban on FGM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following the debate, the lawmakers voted by 42 to four to send it to a parliamentary committee for review. The committee can make amendments to the bill and is expected to send it to the national assembly to be voted on. This is a routine process which takes at least three months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hundreds of people&nbsp;protested outside parliament on Monday with&nbsp;most of them supporting a repeal of the ban, reported AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anti-FGM groups in Gambia, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, have argued that the move will undo years of work. Additionally, opponents of the ban have said that the practice does not have any basis in the Quran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the WHO, FGM can lead to excessive bleeding, shock, psychological problems and in some cases can be fatal.</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns about overturning the ban</strong></h2>

<p>Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, an anti-FGM group said, “It was the most heartbreaking thing to watch men invalidate our experiences and reduce our pain to western influence.” However, she remains confident that the bill will be voted down.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-reiterates-usas-ironclad-commitment-to-defend-philippines-against-attack-by-china-701803">Blinken reiterates USA’s ‘ironclad’ commitment to defend Philippines against attack by China</a></strong></p>

<p>Equality Now, an advocacy group, highlighted the importance of the ban noting that more than half of the 92 countries where FGM is practised have laws against it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If the law is reversed in Gambia, there is a risk that the advocacy efforts in subsequent countries...will fail or go back,” said Caroline Lagat, a programme officer at Equality Now, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide has risen to 230 million from 200 million eight years ago, reported UNICEF, earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>FGM includes partial or full removal of external genitalia. The procedure is often reportedly carried out by traditional community practitioners with tools such as razor blades and sometimes by healthcare workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The decision to possibly overturn a ban in Gambia on female genital mutilation (FGM) has been postponed after lawmakers called for further consultations, on Monday (Mar 18).

The decision to possibly overturn a ban in Gambia on female genital mutilation (FGM) has been postponed after lawmakers called for further consultations, on Monday (Mar 18). This comes as the Gambian members of parliament debated whether to repeal the ban on the procedure, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has no health benefits. Why overturn the ban? FGM was outlawed by the small West African nation eight years ago and it is currently punishable by up to three years of imprisonment and hefty fines. The bill to overturn this ban was introduced earlier this month by lawmaker Almameh Gibba arguing that it violates the citizens’ right to practice their culture and religion. Also Read | Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 now reports crack in windshield while landing in Portland Gibba said that overturning the ban would “uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values”. If passed, Gambia would become the first country to reverse a ban on FGM. Following the debate, the lawmakers voted by 42 to four to send it to a parliamentary committee for review. The committee can make amendments to the bill and is expected to send it to the national assembly to be voted on. This is a routine process which takes at least three months. Hundreds of people protested outside parliament on Monday with most of them supporting a repeal of the ban, reported AFP. Anti-FGM groups in Gambia, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, have argued that the move will undo years of work. Additionally, opponents of the ban have said that the practice does not have any basis in the Quran. According to the WHO, FGM can lead to excessive bleeding, shock, psychological problems and in some cases can be fatal. Concerns about overturning the ban Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, an anti-FGM group said, “It was the most heartbreaking thing to watch men invalidate our experiences and reduce our pain to western influence.” However, she remains confident that the bill will be voted down. Also Read | Blinken reiterates USA’s ‘ironclad’ commitment to defend Philippines against attack by China Equality Now, an advocacy group, highlighted the importance of the ban noting that more than half of the 92 countries where FGM is practised have laws against it. “If the law is reversed in Gambia, there is a risk that the advocacy efforts in subsequent countries...will fail or go back,” said Caroline Lagat, a programme officer at Equality Now, as quoted by Reuters. The number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide has risen to 230 million from 200 million eight years ago, reported UNICEF, earlier this month. FGM includes partial or full removal of external genitalia. The procedure is often reportedly carried out by traditional community practitioners with tools such as razor blades and sometimes by healthcare workers. (With inputs from agencies)

Gambia postpones move to reverse ban on female genital mutilation

<p>Recent figures released by UNICEF indicate a concerning 15 per cent rise in the number of girls and women subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) over the past eight years.</p>

<p>The data reveals that more than 230 million individuals currently alive have experienced FGM, compared to 200 million in 2016.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-female-genital-mutilation-regressive-practice-that-killed-young-girls-in-sierra-leone-686426" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-female-genital-mutilation-regressive-practice-that-killed-young-girls-in-sierra-leone-686426&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXsc3S4eSEAxXnna8BHQfrC-8QFnoECAMQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1d-yD8WsRE8W_0VyFaC8zU" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-female-genital-mutilation-regressive-practice-that-killed-young-girls-in-sierra-leone-686426" target="_blank">What is&nbsp;<b>Female Genital Mutilation</b></a></p>

<p>UNICEF's executive director, Catherine Russell, highlights the urgent need for stronger efforts to combat this harmful practice. UNICEF warns that progress toward eliminating FGM by the UN's 2030 target date needs to happen 27 times faster than the current rate.</p>

<p>FGM, involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, is a severe violation of human rights. Although global prevalence is not increasing, the rise is attributed to a higher number of births in FGM-practicing countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Approximately 60 per cent of FGM cases (144 million) occur in Africa, followed by 80 million in Asia and 6 million in the Middle East.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-125000-women-have-undergone-female-genital-mutilation-fgm-in-france-report-559687">Nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France: Report</a></p>

<p>Countries with the highest prevalence rates include Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan and Mali, where other challenges like conflict, climate shocks and food insecurity complicate intervention efforts.</p>

<p>While some African nations have seen a decline in FGM over the years, progress has stalled or reversed in certain regions. In the Gambia, a recent bill to repeal the FGM ban has sparked a contentious debate over rights, religion, and culture.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sierra Leone still allows the practice despite mounting pressure for criminalisation, with three girls dying during cutting ceremonies earlier this year. Kenya, which criminalised FGM in 2011, has seen progress, but concerns persist, especially in regions experiencing the brunt of the climate crisis.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-denounces-female-genital-mutilation-calls-for-ending-practice-451027" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-denounces-female-genital-mutilation-calls-for-ending-practice-451027&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXsc3S4eSEAxXnna8BHQfrC-8QFnoECAgQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2OZKr3sEkcYIvL-sYxSbeD" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-denounces-female-genital-mutilation-calls-for-ending-practice-451027" target="_blank">Pope Francis denounces&nbsp;<b>female genital mutilation</b></a></p>

<p>Campaigners also note a troubling shift toward the medicalisation of FGM, making it harder to detect as health practitioners replace traditional cutters. The practice is increasingly conducted in hospitals or homes, presenting challenges for detection and prevention.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UNICEF emphasises the need to address the trend of families opting for earlier age cuts, sometimes as early as two years old, to reduce physical harm and psychological trauma. Grassroots organisations fighting against FGM require increased funding to combat this deeply harmful practice.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Recent figures released by UNICEF indicate a concerning 15 per cent rise in the number of girls and women subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) over the past eight years.

Recent figures released by UNICEF indicate a concerning 15 per cent rise in the number of girls and women subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) over the past eight years. The data reveals that more than 230 million individuals currently alive have experienced FGM, compared to 200 million in 2016. Also read: What is Female Genital Mutilation UNICEF's executive director, Catherine Russell, highlights the urgent need for stronger efforts to combat this harmful practice. UNICEF warns that progress toward eliminating FGM by the UN's 2030 target date needs to happen 27 times faster than the current rate. FGM, involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia, is a severe violation of human rights. Although global prevalence is not increasing, the rise is attributed to a higher number of births in FGM-practicing countries. Approximately 60 per cent of FGM cases (144 million) occur in Africa, followed by 80 million in Asia and 6 million in the Middle East. Also read: Nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France: Report Countries with the highest prevalence rates include Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan and Mali, where other challenges like conflict, climate shocks and food insecurity complicate intervention efforts. While some African nations have seen a decline in FGM over the years, progress has stalled or reversed in certain regions. In the Gambia, a recent bill to repeal the FGM ban has sparked a contentious debate over rights, religion, and culture. Sierra Leone still allows the practice despite mounting pressure for criminalisation, with three girls dying during cutting ceremonies earlier this year. Kenya, which criminalised FGM in 2011, has seen progress, but concerns persist, especially in regions experiencing the brunt of the climate crisis. Also read: Pope Francis denounces female genital mutilation Campaigners also note a troubling shift toward the medicalisation of FGM, making it harder to detect as health practitioners replace traditional cutters. The practice is increasingly conducted in hospitals or homes, presenting challenges for detection and prevention. UNICEF emphasises the need to address the trend of families opting for earlier age cuts, sometimes as early as two years old, to reduce physical harm and psychological trauma. Grassroots organisations fighting against FGM require increased funding to combat this deeply harmful practice. (With inputs from agencies)

Sharp surge in female genital mutilation cases, latest data shows

<p><em><strong>Trigger warning: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.</strong></em></p>

<p>In a shocking development, three teenage girls lost their lives whilst they were undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone.</p>

<p>According to the reports, police have launched an inquiry into the incident.</p>

<p>Adamsay Sesay aged 12, Salamatu Jalloh aged 13 and Kadiatu Bangura aged 17, lost their lives at the time of the initiation ceremonies in the country’s North West province in January, said the local media reports.</p>

<p>The executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), an organisation that aims to end FGM in Sierra Leone, Aminata Koroma, as per the Guardian, said that the parents of the deceased and the ones who put them through this process were arrested and are currently in police custody.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-teens-set-for-sentencing-in-frenzied-ferocious-knife-killing-of-transgender-girl-686403">UK teens set for sentencing in 'frenzied, ferocious' knife killing of transgender girl</a></p>

<h2><strong>What is FGM?</strong></h2>

<p>Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all the procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other parts of&nbsp;the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the World Health Organisation, the practice has absolutely no health benefits and rather causes severe bleeding, problems while urinating, cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This practice, which is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, is internationally considered a violation of the human rights of girls and women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the year 2012, the United Nations passed a resolution imposing a ban on it. However, it is still practised in nearly 30 countries.</p>

<p>Though UNICEF is yet to share the latest figures on the global prevalence of FGM next month, as per&nbsp;current estimates, at least 200 million women and girls have undergone this practice.</p>

<p>FGM still remains legal in Sierra Leone despite calls from human rights advocates and activists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This procedure, which is considered a traditional initiation ritual marking a girl's entry into womanhood, is carried out by senior members of the all-women Bondo secret societies, known as 'soweis'.</p>

<p>The executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), Koroma, said that the organisation was pressing for a law that would criminalise FGM.</p>

<p>“The results have been very encouraging,” said Koroma.</p>

<p>“There are many positive aspects of the Bondo societies,” she was quoted as saying by the Guardian.</p>

<p>“They teach girls about the medicinal properties of plants and pass down the history of our culture. Our slogan is, ‘Say yes to Bondo, no to cutting'",&nbsp;Koroma added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Trigger warning: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. In a shocking development, three teenage girls lost their lives whilst they were undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. In a shocking development, three teenage girls lost their lives whilst they were undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone. According to the reports, police have launched an inquiry into the incident. Adamsay Sesay aged 12, Salamatu Jalloh aged 13 and Kadiatu Bangura aged 17, lost their lives at the time of the initiation ceremonies in the country’s North West province in January, said the local media reports. The executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), an organisation that aims to end FGM in Sierra Leone, Aminata Koroma, as per the Guardian, said that the parents of the deceased and the ones who put them through this process were arrested and are currently in police custody. Also read: UK teens set for sentencing in 'frenzied, ferocious' knife killing of transgender girl What is FGM? Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all the procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other parts of the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. According to the World Health Organisation, the practice has absolutely no health benefits and rather causes severe bleeding, problems while urinating, cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths. This practice, which is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, is internationally considered a violation of the human rights of girls and women. In the year 2012, the United Nations passed a resolution imposing a ban on it. However, it is still practised in nearly 30 countries. Though UNICEF is yet to share the latest figures on the global prevalence of FGM next month, as per current estimates, at least 200 million women and girls have undergone this practice. FGM still remains legal in Sierra Leone despite calls from human rights advocates and activists. This procedure, which is considered a traditional initiation ritual marking a girl's entry into womanhood, is carried out by senior members of the all-women Bondo secret societies, known as 'soweis'. The executive secretary of the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP), Koroma, said that the organisation was pressing for a law that would criminalise FGM. “The results have been very encouraging,” said Koroma. “There are many positive aspects of the Bondo societies,” she was quoted as saying by the Guardian. “They teach girls about the medicinal properties of plants and pass down the history of our culture. Our slogan is, ‘Say yes to Bondo, no to cutting'", Koroma added. (With inputs from agencies)

What is Female Genital Mutilation, regressive practice that killed young girls in Sierra Leone?

<p>The world marks February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, which aims at raising awareness and ending this sexual and sexist violence. The day is sponsored by the United Nations and was first introduced in 2003.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a presser by France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, it was mentioned that France has raised calls to end such violence immediately, which represents an "intolerable attack on women’s and girls' bodily integrity and a severe and unacceptable violation of their rights".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement added that France's feminist foreign policy is centred on equality between men and women, promoting the rights of women and girls, and combating sexual and gender-based violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Hillary Clinton announces climate resilience fund for women&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Female genital mutilation: 'Women circumcise little girls for men' <a href="https://t.co/UIF2R4Y7EA">https://t.co/UIF2R4Y7EA</a> <a href="https://t.co/jUolVMuMrL">pic.twitter.com/jUolVMuMrL</a></p>
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<p>Meanwhile, a report by FRANCE24 stated that nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France. The report intends to shed light on the fight against FGM but it says that the subject remains taboo despite the creation of psychological and surgical care over the last 40 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The practice of female genital mutilation includes cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia, clitoris, and inner labia. It is illegal in many countries, including France. The report mentioned that young girls are "often mutilated while on holiday abroad with their families".&nbsp;</p>

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<br />
Statement: <a href="https://t.co/cUADfAKAje">https://t.co/cUADfAKAje</a> <a href="https://t.co/vmz2wUYJ6M">https://t.co/vmz2wUYJ6M</a></p>
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/francediplo_EN/status/1622905393646080006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The report mentioned that such incidents have increased during the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. As quoted, Isabelle Gillette-Faye, who is a sociologist and director of GAMS said: "In Africa, some circumcisers have begun to re-adopt the ritual. Families do not have enough to eat, schools are being closed and the solution is to marry off their daughters."&nbsp;</p>

<p>GAMS means Group for the Abolition of Sexual Mutilation, Forced Marriage and other traditional practices harmful to the health of women and children.&nbsp;</p>

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The world marks February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, which aims at raising awareness and ending this sexual and sexist violence.

The world marks February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, which aims at raising awareness and ending this sexual and sexist violence. The day is sponsored by the United Nations and was first introduced in 2003. In a presser by France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, it was mentioned that France has raised calls to end such violence immediately, which represents an "intolerable attack on women’s and girls' bodily integrity and a severe and unacceptable violation of their rights". The statement added that France's feminist foreign policy is centred on equality between men and women, promoting the rights of women and girls, and combating sexual and gender-based violence. WATCH | Hillary Clinton announces climate resilience fund for women × Female genital mutilation: 'Women circumcise little girls for men' https://t.co/UIF2R4Y7EA pic.twitter.com/jUolVMuMrL — FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) February 6, 2023 × Meanwhile, a report by FRANCE24 stated that nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France. The report intends to shed light on the fight against FGM but it says that the subject remains taboo despite the creation of psychological and surgical care over the last 40 years. The practice of female genital mutilation includes cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia, clitoris, and inner labia. It is illegal in many countries, including France. The report mentioned that young girls are "often mutilated while on holiday abroad with their families". Yesterday 👇 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation #EndFGM Statement: https://t.co/cUADfAKAje https://t.co/vmz2wUYJ6M — France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) February 7, 2023 × The report mentioned that such incidents have increased during the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. As quoted, Isabelle Gillette-Faye, who is a sociologist and director of GAMS said: "In Africa, some circumcisers have begun to re-adopt the ritual. Families do not have enough to eat, schools are being closed and the solution is to marry off their daughters." GAMS means Group for the Abolition of Sexual Mutilation, Forced Marriage and other traditional practices harmful to the health of women and children. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nearly 125,000 women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France: Report

<p>Sudan's Law Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari has announced that female genital mutilation (FGM) will be banned throughout the country, and women will no longer need a permit to travel. Non-Muslims will also be allowed to drink alcohol in private.</p>

<p>Non-Muslims will no longer be criminalised for drinking alcohol in private, justice minister Nasredeen Abdulbari told state television.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The relaxation of alcohol rules is major turnaround from nearly 40 years of hardline Islamist policies. The United Nations reports that some three percent of the population is non-Muslim.</p>

<p>Female genital mutilation (FGM) has long been viewed, especially in rural communities, as a "rite of passage" for girls and a way to preserve their chastity.</p>

<p>In Sudan, nearly nine out of 10 girls fall victim to what is known as FGM or genital cutting, according to the United Nations.</p>

<p>In its most brutal form, it involves the removal of the labia and clitoris, often in unsanitary conditions and without anesthesia.</p>

<p>The wound is then sewn shut, often causing cysts and infections and leaving women to suffer severe pain during sex and childbirth complications later in life.</p>

<p>Rights groups have for years decried as barbaric the practice which can lead to the myriad physical, psychological and sexual complications and, in the most tragic cases, death.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sudan's Law Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari has announced that female genital mutilation (FGM) will be banned throughout the country, and women will no longer need a permit to travel.

Sudan's Law Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari has announced that female genital mutilation (FGM) will be banned throughout the country, and women will no longer need a permit to travel. Non-Muslims will also be allowed to drink alcohol in private. Non-Muslims will no longer be criminalised for drinking alcohol in private, justice minister Nasredeen Abdulbari told state television. The relaxation of alcohol rules is major turnaround from nearly 40 years of hardline Islamist policies. The United Nations reports that some three percent of the population is non-Muslim. Female genital mutilation (FGM) has long been viewed, especially in rural communities, as a "rite of passage" for girls and a way to preserve their chastity. In Sudan, nearly nine out of 10 girls fall victim to what is known as FGM or genital cutting, according to the United Nations. In its most brutal form, it involves the removal of the labia and clitoris, often in unsanitary conditions and without anesthesia. The wound is then sewn shut, often causing cysts and infections and leaving women to suffer severe pain during sex and childbirth complications later in life. Rights groups have for years decried as barbaric the practice which can lead to the myriad physical, psychological and sexual complications and, in the most tragic cases, death. (With inputs from agencies)

Sudan bans female genital mutilation, allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol

<p>The United Nations (UN) declared February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) this year. FGM, is defined by the World Health Organisation as “the total or partial removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”, is widely prevalent in the Bohra Community and some other minority communities in India.</p>

<p>Amid allegations that Dawoodi Bohra women are oppressed, mute spectators of a patriarchal system, the Dawoodi Bohra Women’s Association for Religious Freedom (DBWRF) comprising over 72,000 practising Dawoodi Bohra women set the record straight about their practices and the community in light of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.</p>

<p>Bohra Woman's association claims that Dawoodi Bohra women are among the most progressive and educated in India, having a near 100 per cent literacy rate. The representative from the community claims that the women from the community enjoy positions of power across various sectors such as IT, law, medicine, education, engineering, architecture and retail businesses among others, and are empowered and in fact encouraged to build careers for themselves.</p>

<p>In fact, DBWRF claims that women of the community are deeply pained that despite having cemented their position as business leaders, responsible citizens, loving mothers and homemakers, in a highly educated and gender equal community, they have come under scrutiny for their harmless practice of female circumcision (khafz). The same has been wrongly labelled as female genital mutilation by those with an agenda against the community.</p>

<p>Yasmeen vividly remembers being taken by her mom, maternal grandmother and another female relative, when she was seven, to some chawl in Bhendi Baazar called the Bohri moholla.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I was lying down, my frock was held up…then I don’t remember anything. Just that there was intense pain as I walked back and I was told to keep myself clean, using Dettol water for istinja (wash after urination)," she said as she recalled the trauma she had to undergo on that horrific day.</p>

<p>"I cried a lot. It was not just that. I think it did affect my sexual performance. College days when young girls were too busy trying to get male attention, I was called The Ice Maiden. I went to a convent and then to women’s universities. I had a love marriage but my husband was not happy. He repeatedly told me (jokingly) that my father was to blame for having me circumcised and taking away his pleasure," Says Yasmeen.</p>

<p>Till today she can't figure out, whether it’s a dysfunction of a physical, psychological or emotional nature. Now she has two grown-up boys and she doesn't care much about herself but will surely want to extend all her support to the next generation can see a change.</p>

<p>There are many terms and acronyms to describe female genital mutilation (FGM); female genital cutting (FGC), female circumcision (FC), Khatna and Khafz. In the Bohra Community specifically, it involves the cutting of a seven-year-old girl’s clitoral hood. Ending FGM’s terminology barrier is the specific goal this year of a women survivor lead organisation, WeSpeakOut. "Khafz is FGM.” says Masooma Ranalvi, convener of WeSpeakOut while speaking to WION.</p>

<p>“There is an attempt to confuse and obfuscate the gravity of the practice of FGM by using differing terminologies, claiming that FGM is barbaric while Khafz is more civilized. This use of different terms is only meant to belittle the harm caused by Khafz, by glorifying it,” says Masooma.</p>

<p>As the country faces general elections, women opposing female circumcision call upon all Indian political leaders to heed to their appeal and want the new government to step in to end FGM’s terminology barrier, and to take a categorical stand to end the practice. The practice of FGM is condemned by international human rights treaties to which India is a party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India has also pledged to eliminate FGM as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</p>


The United Nations (UN) declared February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) this year. FGM, is defined by the World Health Organisation as “the total or partial removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”, is widely prevalent in the Bohra Community and some other minority communities in India.

The United Nations (UN) declared February 6 as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) this year. FGM, is defined by the World Health Organisation as “the total or partial removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”, is widely prevalent in the Bohra Community and some other minority communities in India. Amid allegations that Dawoodi Bohra women are oppressed, mute spectators of a patriarchal system, the Dawoodi Bohra Women’s Association for Religious Freedom (DBWRF) comprising over 72,000 practising Dawoodi Bohra women set the record straight about their practices and the community in light of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. Bohra Woman's association claims that Dawoodi Bohra women are among the most progressive and educated in India, having a near 100 per cent literacy rate. The representative from the community claims that the women from the community enjoy positions of power across various sectors such as IT, law, medicine, education, engineering, architecture and retail businesses among others, and are empowered and in fact encouraged to build careers for themselves. In fact, DBWRF claims that women of the community are deeply pained that despite having cemented their position as business leaders, responsible citizens, loving mothers and homemakers, in a highly educated and gender equal community, they have come under scrutiny for their harmless practice of female circumcision (khafz). The same has been wrongly labelled as female genital mutilation by those with an agenda against the community. Yasmeen vividly remembers being taken by her mom, maternal grandmother and another female relative, when she was seven, to some chawl in Bhendi Baazar called the Bohri moholla. "I was lying down, my frock was held up…then I don’t remember anything. Just that there was intense pain as I walked back and I was told to keep myself clean, using Dettol water for istinja (wash after urination)," she said as she recalled the trauma she had to undergo on that horrific day. "I cried a lot. It was not just that. I think it did affect my sexual performance. College days when young girls were too busy trying to get male attention, I was called The Ice Maiden. I went to a convent and then to women’s universities. I had a love marriage but my husband was not happy. He repeatedly told me (jokingly) that my father was to blame for having me circumcised and taking away his pleasure," Says Yasmeen. Till today she can't figure out, whether it’s a dysfunction of a physical, psychological or emotional nature. Now she has two grown-up boys and she doesn't care much about herself but will surely want to extend all her support to the next generation can see a change. There are many terms and acronyms to describe female genital mutilation (FGM); female genital cutting (FGC), female circumcision (FC), Khatna and Khafz. In the Bohra Community specifically, it involves the cutting of a seven-year-old girl’s clitoral hood. Ending FGM’s terminology barrier is the specific goal this year of a women survivor lead organisation, WeSpeakOut. "Khafz is FGM.” says Masooma Ranalvi, convener of WeSpeakOut while speaking to WION. “There is an attempt to confuse and obfuscate the gravity of the practice of FGM by using differing terminologies, claiming that FGM is barbaric while Khafz is more civilized. This use of different terms is only meant to belittle the harm caused by Khafz, by glorifying it,” says Masooma. As the country faces general elections, women opposing female circumcision call upon all Indian political leaders to heed to their appeal and want the new government to step in to end FGM’s terminology barrier, and to take a categorical stand to end the practice. The practice of FGM is condemned by international human rights treaties to which India is a party. India has also pledged to eliminate FGM as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Calls for zero tolerance towards Female Genital Mutilation get louder as election nears 

<p>The Supreme Court Monday referred to a five-judge constitution bench the plea challenging practice of female genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra Muslims.</p>

<p>A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was hearing a PIL filed by a Delhi-based lawyer challenging the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) of minor girls of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community.</p>

<p>Female genital mutilation is performed “illegally upon girls (between five years and before she attains puberty)” and is against the “UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which is India is a signatory”, the plea said, adding the practice caused “permanent disfiguration to the body of a girl child”.</p>

<p>A group of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community members had earlier told the apex court that the female circumcision is practised by a few sects of Islam, including the Dawoodi Bohra community, and the validity of this be examined, if at all, by a larger constitution bench.</p>


The Supreme Court Monday referred to a five-judge constitution bench the plea challenging practice of female genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra Muslims. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was hearing a PIL filed by a Delhi-based lawyer challenging the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) of minor girls of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community.

The Supreme Court Monday referred to a five-judge constitution bench the plea challenging practice of female genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohra Muslims. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was hearing a PIL filed by a Delhi-based lawyer challenging the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) of minor girls of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community. Female genital mutilation is performed “illegally upon girls (between five years and before she attains puberty)” and is against the “UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which is India is a signatory”, the plea said, adding the practice caused “permanent disfiguration to the body of a girl child”. A group of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community members had earlier told the apex court that the female circumcision is practised by a few sects of Islam, including the Dawoodi Bohra community, and the validity of this be examined, if at all, by a larger constitution bench.

Supreme Court refers PIL against female genital mutilation to five-judge constitution bench

<p><strong>Coming of age Ceremony: Targeting the Voiceless</strong></p>

<p>&quot;On my 7th birthday celebration, I heard my mother talk to my grandmother--saying that the time has come. I did not what that meant. One fine day, my mother told me that we will go to buy house supplies from the local market--I became excited instantly. My parents had been living in the locality forever and everyone recognised me. Shop owners waved at me as I passed&nbsp;by and some even offered me treats. I was a pampered child. I dressed in my new blue shirt and walked out of the house in glee. Instead of the market, she took me to a dirty, dark alley--into a not-so-welcoming building.</p>

<p>&quot;An old woman greeted us at the door and took us in a dark room. The stove in the bedroom felt out of place. My mother asked me to lie down and like the obedient girl I was, I did.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;My mother held my hand, I asked her what was going on and she assured that it will be over before I know. The woman pulled down my pants and I began to cry. What came next continues to be the most horrifying memory of my life.</p>

<p>&quot;I felt a hot, burning blade cut my clitoral - the skin outside my vagina. I started bleeding.</p>

<p>&quot;I cried and screamed and continued to weep for days. Mother told me that this is for my own good but it will hurt for the time being, especially when I urinate. I kept bleeding for three days. The bleeding stopped but the trauma remained forever. Even today, 20 years later, I sometimes have nightmares,&quot; Nabiya* explains.</p>

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<p>The chopping of a 7-year-old girl&rsquo;s clitoris is a practice called Khatna or Khafas by the Bohra community in India. The world calls it Female Genital Mutilation--a term that describes the practice quite literally.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In India, it is mostly associated with the Dawoodi Bohras--a sect within Shia Islam, but is actually practiced among the entire Bohra community, including Sulemani and Alvi Bohras. Within the community residing in India, 80-90 per cent&nbsp;girls are cut in total secrecy.</p>

<p>The child is never informed of what is going to happen. It is usually performed by midwives and grandmothers in an unhygienic atmosphere, without the use of anesthesia.</p>

<p>Although the community practices it on small girls, it may also be carried out on adult women, who are not born in the community but are marrying into a Bohra family.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Tampering the body, Altering Sexuality and torture</strong></p>

<p>The practice is followed by several communities, particularly&nbsp;Bohras, Christians, and Africans, and each one has a different justification.</p>

<p>According to the Bohras, cutting of genitals ensure cleanliness and purity, that is, &quot;taharat&quot;, and aid religious piety, discourage promiscuity by reducing a woman&rsquo;s illicit desire for sexual intercourse and, thereby, ensure&nbsp;fidelity within the marriage. The Bohra community claims that, the amount&nbsp;they are cutting out in today&rsquo;s time, is very little and it discourages masturbation by clitoral stimulation as well as helps enhance sexual pleasure within the context of marriage.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Masooma Ranalvi disagrees and puts forward valid arguments, &ldquo;This absolutely makes no sense. Firstly, there is no scientific evidence to back this statement. Secondly, Why would you want to sexualise a 7-year-old child? Why would you tamper the sexuality--curb it or enhance it? A person is born with it and to alter it or not has to be their own discrete choice&rdquo;, she asserts.&nbsp;Masooma, from the organisation SpeakOut, is one of the many women who started a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/end-female-genital-mutilation-in-india">petition to end FGM.</a>&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Even though the practice is not formally acknowledged in our law, it clearly violates POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) since it involves a stranger touching and cutting the child. FGM constitutes&nbsp;a violation of human rights by tampering bodies, altering sexualities and putting the person through torture.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p><strong>A Controversial Tradition and Perpetuation of Patriarchy</strong></p>

<p>According to experts, FGM precedes all formal religions and has been practised for millennia. But there is no reference to it in the Quran. It has a mention in Daim al-Islam--the Ismaili Shi&#39;a Muslim text followed by the Bohras. However, it should be noted that this book was written 400 years after the prophet&#39;s death. &ldquo;There is another reference in Hazrat Ali but that is not a compelling belief. It pagan pride and a patriarchal practice of controlling women that took the name of a cultural practice,&rdquo; Masooma explains.</p>

<p>&quot;People against the practice argue that God will not create a human being that has impure parts in the body,&quot; says Aliya Hafees*, a victim and survivor.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
There is the whole spectrum of theories that conclude FGM continues because of oppressive patriarchy.</p>

<p>&quot;Women&rsquo;s role in patriarchy is to imbibe and pass it down, to maintain the status quo. Whereas, the men in power are the ones who define and design the status quo. The very fact that the religion or culture requires that the practice is kept a secret on the grounds of women&rsquo;s modesty is a manifestation of patriarchy,&quot; explain Mariya Taher and Aarefa Johari, who&nbsp;are founders of Sahiyo, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness and eradication of FGM.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
FGM is about power and economics, the &lsquo;ownership&rsquo; of women by men. &quot;Originally, it was a way of preventing unwanted pregnancies and &lsquo;ensuring purity&rsquo;. Slaves and wealthy women were sewn. Slaves were meant to remain childless and it was also a method to ensure that wealthy women, whose husbands were often away for extended periods, have legitimate offsprings for the purpose of fair inheritance.&rdquo; says Hilary Burrage, author of two books on FGM.</p>

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<p>Over time, these notions coalesced around ideas of &quot;purity&quot;, &quot;value&quot;&nbsp;and &quot;honour&quot;&nbsp;of women and simple male control.&nbsp;<br />
&ldquo;It is similar to chastity belts,&nbsp;a&nbsp;locking item of clothing designed to prevent sexual intercourse, used in Europe back in the times. This was a measure taken to stop adultery. These basically stem in patriarchy of controlling the women,&rdquo; says Masooma.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Alternate Theory:&nbsp;Economically Beneficial Cut?</strong></p>

<p>&quot;A girl who has not undergone FGM may be regarded as &lsquo;wanton&rsquo; &ndash; and, in more recent times, also seen as &lsquo;like Western girls&rsquo;, thereby, &lsquo;betraying&rsquo; her own people. FGM in some communities is seen as an investment. The communities believe that the girl is not marriage-worthy if she is not cut. In many cultures, women are denied adult status unless they marry, so they cannot remain single.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;But a girl who is cut will be married early at an age where her new &lsquo;adult&rsquo; status sits uncomfortably with her capacity to make decisions. There will be no further schooling--once married, she will become a &lsquo;baby machine&rsquo; and her damaged body will produce children that are symbols of insurance of a pension and security in old age,&quot; Hilary says.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Also, in some cultures, FGM gives women seniority and influence--a freedom otherwise denied.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>But Mother, why you?</strong></p>

<p>Talking about the act is mostly forbidden and it, therefore, remains unchallenged in most places. Few women are willing to consider that their mothers could have been &quot;wrong&quot;&nbsp;in permitting FGM.</p>

<p>The psychological harm that may arise from such a belief is obvious. Surely, if the mother had it herself and then subjected her daughter to it, it must have been essential?<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Why do mothers let their daughter get cut? &ldquo;The first reason being ignorance - I think many women did not understand what was happening. It was something you are told to do and you do it blindly without questioning it,&rdquo; Masooma explains.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Several superstitious notions also revolve around FGM in the society. &ldquo;The flesh is considered to be &lsquo;haramni boti&rsquo; - a sinful lump of flesh that will lead the girls astray. Some people refer to it a kind of premarital flesh that makes you want to engage in adulterous affairs. FGM is a method suggested to the mothers to keep their girl in control. If one does not cut the girl and she later turns out to engage in an activity the parents don&rsquo;t approve of, the society blames the mother for not cutting the girl. It is a belief system that formed over the time,&ldquo; she adds.</p>

<p><strong>&#39;I am proud of being cut&#39;</strong></p>

<p>Very few woman are vocal about FGM--only some dare to go against their community and protest, only to be shamed, abused and boycotted. However, there are some who are in favour of the practice.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>&quot;You are only a true, pure Bohra if khatna is done to you. It is our identity and we should be proud of it. It makes us unique and we must respect the tradition of our ancestors,&quot; says 35-year-old&nbsp;Zubina*.</p>

<p>According to media reports, on April 29, 2016, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin said the following&nbsp;in the Lisan-ul- Dawat language, &nbsp;&ldquo;Whatever the world says, we should be strong and firm&hellip;whatever they say, it does not make a difference to us, we are not willing to accept [what they say]&hellip;we are not willing to talk to them. What are they telling us? That what we are doing is wrong?&hellip;who are they to teach us?&rdquo;</p>

<p>Nevertheless, the fight against FGM continues in the country. SpeakOut in collaboration with Lawyers Collective has&nbsp;published a <a href="http://www.lawyerscollective.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Female-Genital-Mutilation-A-guide-to-eliminating-the-FGM-practice-in-India.pdf">report </a>and filed a PIL and proposed what the law must look like.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>*Names have been changed to protect identities</strong></em></p>


'The woman pulled down my pants and I began to cry. What came next continues to be the most horrifying memory of my life', said one FGM survivor

Coming of age Ceremony: Targeting the Voiceless "On my 7th birthday celebration, I heard my mother talk to my grandmother--saying that the time has come. I did not what that meant. One fine day, my mother told me that we will go to buy house supplies from the local market--I became excited instantly. My parents had been living in the locality forever and everyone recognised me. Shop owners waved at me as I passed by and some even offered me treats. I was a pampered child. I dressed in my new blue shirt and walked out of the house in glee. Instead of the market, she took me to a dirty, dark alley--into a not-so-welcoming building. "An old woman greeted us at the door and took us in a dark room. The stove in the bedroom felt out of place. My mother asked me to lie down and like the obedient girl I was, I did. "My mother held my hand, I asked her what was going on and she assured that it will be over before I know. The woman pulled down my pants and I began to cry. What came next continues to be the most horrifying memory of my life. "I felt a hot, burning blade cut my clitoral - the skin outside my vagina. I started bleeding. "I cried and screamed and continued to weep for days. Mother told me that this is for my own good but it will hurt for the time being, especially when I urinate. I kept bleeding for three days. The bleeding stopped but the trauma remained forever. Even today, 20 years later, I sometimes have nightmares," Nabiya* explains. I felt a hot, burning blade cut my clitoral - the skin outside my vagina × The chopping of a 7-year-old girl’s clitoris is a practice called Khatna or Khafas by the Bohra community in India. The world calls it Female Genital Mutilation--a term that describes the practice quite literally. In India, it is mostly associated with the Dawoodi Bohras--a sect within Shia Islam, but is actually practiced among the entire Bohra community, including Sulemani and Alvi Bohras. Within the community residing in India, 80-90 per cent girls are cut in total secrecy. The child is never informed of what is going to happen. It is usually performed by midwives and grandmothers in an unhygienic atmosphere, without the use of anesthesia. Although the community practices it on small girls, it may also be carried out on adult women, who are not born in the community but are marrying into a Bohra family. Tampering the body, Altering Sexuality and torture The practice is followed by several communities, particularly Bohras, Christians, and Africans, and each one has a different justification. According to the Bohras, cutting of genitals ensure cleanliness and purity, that is, "taharat", and aid religious piety, discourage promiscuity by reducing a woman’s illicit desire for sexual intercourse and, thereby, ensure fidelity within the marriage. The Bohra community claims that, the amount they are cutting out in today’s time, is very little and it discourages masturbation by clitoral stimulation as well as helps enhance sexual pleasure within the context of marriage. Masooma Ranalvi disagrees and puts forward valid arguments, “This absolutely makes no sense. Firstly, there is no scientific evidence to back this statement. Secondly, Why would you want to sexualise a 7-year-old child? Why would you tamper the sexuality--curb it or enhance it? A person is born with it and to alter it or not has to be their own discrete choice”, she asserts. Masooma, from the organisation SpeakOut, is one of the many women who started a petition to end FGM. Even though the practice is not formally acknowledged in our law, it clearly violates POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) since it involves a stranger touching and cutting the child. FGM constitutes a violation of human rights by tampering bodies, altering sexualities and putting the person through torture. FGM constitutes a violation of human rights by tampering bodies, altering sexualities and putting the person through torture × A Controversial Tradition and Perpetuation of Patriarchy According to experts, FGM precedes all formal religions and has been practised for millennia. But there is no reference to it in the Quran. It has a mention in Daim al-Islam--the Ismaili Shi'a Muslim text followed by the Bohras. However, it should be noted that this book was written 400 years after the prophet's death. “There is another reference in Hazrat Ali but that is not a compelling belief. It pagan pride and a patriarchal practice of controlling women that took the name of a cultural practice,” Masooma explains. "People against the practice argue that God will not create a human being that has impure parts in the body," says Aliya Hafees*, a victim and survivor. There is the whole spectrum of theories that conclude FGM continues because of oppressive patriarchy. "Women’s role in patriarchy is to imbibe and pass it down, to maintain the status quo. Whereas, the men in power are the ones who define and design the status quo. The very fact that the religion or culture requires that the practice is kept a secret on the grounds of women’s modesty is a manifestation of patriarchy," explain Mariya Taher and Aarefa Johari, who are founders of Sahiyo, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness and eradication of FGM. FGM is about power and economics, the ‘ownership’ of women by men. "Originally, it was a way of preventing unwanted pregnancies and ‘ensuring purity’. Slaves and wealthy women were sewn. Slaves were meant to remain childless and it was also a method to ensure that wealthy women, whose husbands were often away for extended periods, have legitimate offsprings for the purpose of fair inheritance.” says Hilary Burrage, author of two books on FGM. FGM is about power and economics, the ‘ownership’ of women by men × Over time, these notions coalesced around ideas of "purity", "value" and "honour" of women and simple male control. “It is similar to chastity belts, a locking item of clothing designed to prevent sexual intercourse, used in Europe back in the times. This was a measure taken to stop adultery. These basically stem in patriarchy of controlling the women,” says Masooma. Alternate Theory: Economically Beneficial Cut? "A girl who has not undergone FGM may be regarded as ‘wanton’ – and, in more recent times, also seen as ‘like Western girls’, thereby, ‘betraying’ her own people. FGM in some communities is seen as an investment. The communities believe that the girl is not marriage-worthy if she is not cut. In many cultures, women are denied adult status unless they marry, so they cannot remain single. "But a girl who is cut will be married early at an age where her new ‘adult’ status sits uncomfortably with her capacity to make decisions. There will be no further schooling--once married, she will become a ‘baby machine’ and her damaged body will produce children that are symbols of insurance of a pension and security in old age," Hilary says. Also, in some cultures, FGM gives women seniority and influence--a freedom otherwise denied. But Mother, why you? Talking about the act is mostly forbidden and it, therefore, remains unchallenged in most places. Few women are willing to consider that their mothers could have been "wrong" in permitting FGM. The psychological harm that may arise from such a belief is obvious. Surely, if the mother had it herself and then subjected her daughter to it, it must have been essential? You are only a true, pure Bohra if khatna is done to you. It is our identity and we should be proud of it. It makes us unique and we must respect the tradition of our ancestors × Why do mothers let their daughter get cut? “The first reason being ignorance - I think many women did not understand what was happening. It was something you are told to do and you do it blindly without questioning it,” Masooma explains. Several superstitious notions also revolve around FGM in the society. “The flesh is considered to be ‘haramni boti’ - a sinful lump of flesh that will lead the girls astray. Some people refer to it a kind of premarital flesh that makes you want to engage in adulterous affairs. FGM is a method suggested to the mothers to keep their girl in control. If one does not cut the girl and she later turns out to engage in an activity the parents don’t approve of, the society blames the mother for not cutting the girl. It is a belief system that formed over the time,“ she adds. 'I am proud of being cut' Very few woman are vocal about FGM--only some dare to go against their community and protest, only to be shamed, abused and boycotted. However, there are some who are in favour of the practice. "You are only a true, pure Bohra if khatna is done to you. It is our identity and we should be proud of it. It makes us unique and we must respect the tradition of our ancestors," says 35-year-old Zubina*. According to media reports, on April 29, 2016, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin said the following in the Lisan-ul- Dawat language, “Whatever the world says, we should be strong and firm…whatever they say, it does not make a difference to us, we are not willing to accept [what they say]…we are not willing to talk to them. What are they telling us? That what we are doing is wrong?…who are they to teach us?” Nevertheless, the fight against FGM continues in the country. SpeakOut in collaboration with Lawyers Collective has published a report and filed a PIL and proposed what the law must look like. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) *Names have been changed to protect identities

Opinion: More than 500,000 girls in India at risk of female genital mutilation

<p>A US doctor in Detroit has been arrested and charged with carrying out female genital mutilation on girls aged six to eight, prosecutors said Thursday.</p>

<p>Emergency room doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, is accused of carrying out the widely condemned practice -- illegal in the United States -- for 12 years from a medical office in Livonia, Michigan.</p>

<p>She appeared in a US federal court in Detroit on Thursday and was remanded into custody until at least Monday, said a spokeswoman for the US attorney&#39;s office.</p>

<p>If convicted at trial she faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.</p>

<p>Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the United States on anyone under than 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice.</p>

<p>Prosecutors in Michigan say they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law.</p>

<p>Some of Nagarwala&#39;s victims traveled from outside Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, prosecutors said.</p>

<p>&quot;Dr Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims,&quot; said acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco.</p>

<p>&quot;The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law,&quot; said acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch.</p>

<p>In 2006, a court in Georgia found a man guilty of sexually mutilating his two-year-old daughter with a pair of scissors, in what was then the first recorded case of female genital mutilation in the United States.</p>

<p>The Ethiopian immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated battery and cruelty to children for the 2001 crime.</p>

<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 513,000 women and girls in the United States in 2012 were at risk of or had been subjected to female genital mutilation or cutting.</p>

<p>The estimate was three times higher than one based on 1990 data, due to increased immigration from countries where genital mutilation is practiced.</p>

<p>Globally, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have suffered some form of female genital mutilation across 30 countries, according to the United Nations.</p>

<p>While concentrated in Africa, it is common in some communities in Asia, Arab states and Latin America. Half of those cut live in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, according to the UN.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


Emergency room doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, is accused of carrying out the widely condemned practice

A US doctor in Detroit has been arrested and charged with carrying out female genital mutilation on girls aged six to eight, prosecutors said Thursday. Emergency room doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Northville, Michigan, is accused of carrying out the widely condemned practice -- illegal in the United States -- for 12 years from a medical office in Livonia, Michigan. She appeared in a US federal court in Detroit on Thursday and was remanded into custody until at least Monday, said a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office. If convicted at trial she faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars. Congress passed a law in 1996 making it illegal to perform genital mutilation or cutting in the United States on anyone under than 18. Twenty-five US states also have laws prohibiting the practice. Prosecutors in Michigan say they believe it is the first case of its kind brought under the federal law. Some of Nagarwala's victims traveled from outside Michigan and were told not to talk about the procedure, prosecutors said. "Dr Nagarwala is alleged to have performed horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims," said acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco. "The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse." "The practice has no place in modern society and those who perform FGM on minors will be held accountable under federal law," said acting US Attorney Daniel Lemisch. In 2006, a court in Georgia found a man guilty of sexually mutilating his two-year-old daughter with a pair of scissors, in what was then the first recorded case of female genital mutilation in the United States. The Ethiopian immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated battery and cruelty to children for the 2001 crime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 513,000 women and girls in the United States in 2012 were at risk of or had been subjected to female genital mutilation or cutting. The estimate was three times higher than one based on 1990 data, due to increased immigration from countries where genital mutilation is practiced. Globally, at least 200 million girls and women alive today have suffered some form of female genital mutilation across 30 countries, according to the United Nations. While concentrated in Africa, it is common in some communities in Asia, Arab states and Latin America. Half of those cut live in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, according to the UN. (AFP)

US: Indian-origin doctor arrested for carrying out female genital mutilation