No religious holy books mention or condone female genital mutilation. Islamic jurisprudence and some other books, which take up a discussion on the issue of female circumcision. In egypt, where perhaps 97 percent of girls suffer genital mutilation, both christian copts and muslims are complicit. A secretive sect opens a debate on female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation in djibouti pubmed central pmc. Fgm is a problem in all geographic locations, regardless of religious affiliation. The who defines the practice as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or. So what is fgm, and what are its religious underpinnings, if any. Leyla hussein, from the charity daughters of eve, said that although fgm is not only a muslim issue, islamic leaders must condemn it and set an example for other religions to follow. Female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc means piercing, cutting, removing, or sewing closed all or part of a girls or womans external genitals for no medical reason. It is implicity mentioned in the quran if you doubt this then please read on and in at least. Female genital mutilation is an ancient practice dating back to the pharaohs.
The sudanese national committee on the eradication of harmful traditional practices and the campaign against female. A majority of the victims are muslim but likewise, a majority of muslims dont practice fgm. There is a widespread view among practitioners of female genital mutilation fgm that it is a. However, within those muslim communities that carry.
Religious leaders in the uk must do more to crack down on female genital mutilation, a leading campaigner has warned. Guide on female genital mutilation cutting interactive. Islam s is the only religion that mentions fgm in its sacred texts. Muslim groups call for female genital mutilation to be. Confronting americas false images of islam by paul findley 20010501. Despite predating islam and christianity many people believe fgm to be a religious practice. Leaders try to squelch dar alhijrah female genital. As early as the 17th century, christian missionaries and colonial administrations in africa attempted to prevent. The jewish and christian view on female genital mutilation. The islamic view on female circumcision sciencedirect. Islamic texts are often used to justify fgmc in this region. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common. Establishment media treatments of female genital mutilation routinely insist that it has nothing to do with islam, but actually fgm is mandated in. Two weeks after the senior imam at the dar alhijrah mosque endorsed partial female genital mutilation fgm as the honorable thing to do, a clear effort is under way to try to stifle further debate dont be in tensions or in camps, mosque board member esam.
A number of antiislamic books have been written recently, criticizing some islamic countries for lack of religious tolerance, equality for women, lack of democracy, etc. The history of fgm is not well known but the practice dated back at least 2000 years. Sometimes called female circumcision or female genital cutting, fgm is the cutting of the clitoris of girls in order to curb their sexual desire and preserve their sexual honor before marriage. An analysis of female circumcision according to islamic law al islam. Linking female circumcision to islamic philosophy and instruction has proven quite dubious. As soon as i utter that fgm is good then they can arrest me. There is an ongoing debate about the extent to which the practices continuation is influenced by custom, social pressure, lack of healthcare information, and the position of women in society. There is no evidence of female circumcision ever being a part of islamic tradition or teaching and those who consider it to be an islamic practice base it purely. In muslim societies, it is considered sunna, a religious tradition all that is. One of the most famous of these books is why i am not a muslim by ibn warraq, an exmuslim. Out of the hundreds of books ive read regarding islam, this is the first ive encountered that studied the islamic succession rituals. Ashenafi moges through out history, culture tradition has been invoked to justify abhorrent and inhuman practices. Thus, it has long been concluded to be a cultural practice, not connected to religion.
An international islamist activist says such discussions shouldnt be aired publicly. For example, fgm only occurs in islamic and islamicadjacent communities. In egypt, social pressure means fgm is still the norm. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. Making excuses for islam and fgm heathers homilies. It also spurred a michigan state lawmaker to introduce antishariah legislation, even though the practice is not based on islamic law. The following article contains information that readers may find uncomfortable or disturbing to read female genital mutilation is a torture, not a culture.
Muslim youth summit told female genital mutilation is not part of islam this article is more than 5 years old twoday event in gambia, backed by guardian, hears islamic scholar say fgm is not. The guardian on islam and female genital mutilation. Fgm is an act of terrorism not an act of islam muslim. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. Prevalence of female genital mutilation by country. Islamic leaders must set fgm example for other religions. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. Goats and soda the bohras, an offshoot of shiite islam, practice cutting as a. It has been documented in 28 african countries and in some countries in asia and the middle east, but due to increasing immigration from these countries to the western world, fgm has become a worldwide human rights and health issue. Most of them become victims of the practice before they are old enough to object.
If one looks at the current data and historical mentions including the hadith, one cant help but draw the conclusion that fgm is an african preislamic tradition that has been supported, promoted, and exported by islam. In order to determine where islamic sharia stands as far as fgm is concerned we. Female genital mutilation world health organization. A key tenant of islam is that one should not harm another persons body or ones own body. Researchers estimate more than 5,000 girls and women in the u. The arrest reignited a discussion on female genital mutilation in the u. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. The book concludes with thoughts on the movement from tradition to cultural evolution. It is a cultural practice thought to have been established centuries ago, though its origins appear to have been lost in the past. Pdf the islamic view on female circumcision researchgate. There is a widespread view among practitioners of female genital mutilation fgm that it is a religious requirement, although prevalence rates often vary according to geography and ethnic group.
Eventually, the idea of the kingroup of the prophet having a unique claim to the leadership of the muslims became very widespread p. Despite negative publicity, muslims in calgary continues. I am often asked what my perspective is with regards to female genital mutilation or more commonly known as female circumcision within the islamic world. International efforts to eliminate it also have a long history. Its also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths. Authorities will never be able to address the problem adequately because theyre too busy going out their way to say that it is not islamic in practice female genital mutilation fgm or clitoridectomy is an islamic tradition, rampant in the muslim world. Female genital mutilation fgm comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation fgm is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but theres no medical reason for this to be done. Back in 2008, devout members of the egyptian parliament have made female genital mutilation circumcision legal again in egypt. Albaihaqqy in his book sunanalkubra the major traditions vol. Fgmc procedures used to be carried out, and still are in very remote areas, by traditional.
Several arab sources have documented the practice of fgmc in the preislamic era. Most importantly, the undersigned to this document consider it amoral and religious obligation, as argued above, for all muslims here in. Despite negative publicity, muslims in calgary continues to teach health benefits of fgm as an islamic practice ah, yesthe health benefits of hacking off a girls clitoris with a rusty blade, and sometimes stitching her up so that she is at risk for fistulas. The guardian reports that britains largest muslim organization, the muslim council of britain mcb, has condemned female genital mutilation. It was believed that it was practised in ancient egypt as a sign of distinction amongst the aristocracy. Confronting americas false images of islam by paul findley 20010501 on. One of the most controversial topics is female genital mutilation in religion and more commonly within islam. Islam, however, is a religion which recognizes the equal status of men and women in the eyes of. Reasons such as aesthetic, tradition and religion were mentioned, and to a lesser degree other reasons such as.
It is not known when or where the tradition of female genital mutilation originated from. The world health organization condemns all forms of female genital mutilation and calls for the abolition of the practice. For example, in ethiopia, muslims, christians, and jews have all practiced fgm though no faith endorses the act. He added in the 28page ruling, congress overstepped its bounds by legislating to prohibit fgm because fgm is a local criminal activity which, in keeping with longstanding tradition. Female genital mutilation fgm or fgc is practised in 30 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern africa, in parts of the middle east and asia, and within some immigrant communities in europe, north america and australia. Fgm existed long before islam and it sadly persists today as a cultural tradition that traverses religious lines. That is, do the local imams speak in support of the procedure, or do they routinely condemn it. What is fgm, and what does it have to do with islam. The who defines the practice as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital. Al hafez ibn hagar also states in his book talkhees al khabeer fi. Among social activists and feminists, combating female genital mutilation fgm is an important policy goal.
Islams is the only religion that mentions fgm in its sacred texts. Female genital mutilation fgm or clitoridectomy is an islamic tradition, rampant in the muslim world. Over 96% of the women in egypt have been clitoridectomized. Religious views on female genital mutilation wikipedia. Female genital mutilation in pakistan, and beyond the. Female genital mutilation fgm occurs in many parts of the world, especially in africa. Further, many nonmuslim communities and cultures practice fgm. Imam shafii is one of those who say that fgm is an obligation, that girls and women should be circumcised if i get asked about the religious ruling on fgm i must keep my silence and not dare to open my mouth. Pdf the history of islam had not itself been previously confronted with what is. Dissemblers and deceivers claim that fgm is cultural phenomenon, not religious. Female genital mutilation fgm is a practice involving the removal of all or parts of the female external genitalia.
Tradition covers the most enduring enemies of a womans dignity and security and aims at preserving male dominance and female subjugation. Despite their ongoing antagonismsplayed out, prominently, on fox newsa bizarre, shared apologetic has emerged which denies the irrefragable sanctioning of female genital mutilationcircumcision fgmc by canonical islamic tradition hadith, and over 1100 years of authoritative, mainstream islamic jurisprudence. Delinking female genital mutilation cutting from islam unfpa. The mfi pamphlet series, initiated by the minaret of freedom institute aims to make widely available, at a minimal cost, a summary of authentic islamic positions on important issues of the day.