Despite predating islam and christianity many people believe fgm to be a religious practice. A majority of the victims are muslim but likewise, a majority of muslims dont practice fgm. One of the most famous of these books is why i am not a muslim by ibn warraq, an exmuslim. Fgm is an act of terrorism not an act of islam muslim. 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. Several arab sources have documented the practice of fgmc in the preislamic era. Female genital mutilation in djibouti pubmed central pmc.
Most importantly, the undersigned to this document consider it amoral and religious obligation, as argued above, for all muslims here in. Eventually, the idea of the kingroup of the prophet having a unique claim to the leadership of the muslims became very widespread p. The following article contains information that readers may find uncomfortable or disturbing to read female genital mutilation is a torture, not a culture. In egypt, social pressure means fgm is still the norm. 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. It is not known when or where the tradition of female genital mutilation originated from. Muslim groups call for female genital mutilation to be. Muslim youth summit told female genital mutilation is not. Fgm is a problem in all geographic locations, regardless of religious affiliation. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common. Tradition covers the most enduring enemies of a womans dignity and security and aims at preserving male dominance and female subjugation. Linking female circumcision to islamic philosophy and instruction has proven quite dubious.
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. Islamic jurisprudence and some other books, which take up a discussion on the issue of female circumcision. 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. The book concludes with thoughts on the movement from tradition to cultural evolution. 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. 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 clitoridectomy is an islamic tradition, rampant in the muslim world. Guide on female genital mutilation cutting interactive. The islamic view on female circumcision sciencedirect. Ashenafi moges through out history, culture tradition has been invoked to justify abhorrent and inhuman practices. Out of the hundreds of books ive read regarding islam, this is the first ive encountered that studied the islamic succession rituals. Religious views on female genital mutilation wikipedia.
Female genital mutilation in pakistan, and beyond the. 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. 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. There is a widespread view among practitioners of female genital mutilation fgm that it is a. Islam s is the only religion that mentions fgm in its sacred texts. The guardian reports that britains largest muslim organization, the muslim council of britain mcb, has condemned female genital mutilation. Making excuses for islam and fgm heathers homilies. Back in 2008, devout members of the egyptian parliament have made female genital mutilation circumcision legal again in egypt. It was believed that it was practised in ancient egypt as a sign of distinction amongst the aristocracy. 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. A secretive sect opens a debate on female genital mutilation. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional.
In her latest blog 28 too many volunteer nigeen dara investigates the islamic view on fgm to increase understanding and challenge. 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. Over 96% of the women in egypt have been clitoridectomized. In egypt, where perhaps 97 percent of girls suffer genital mutilation, both christian copts and muslims are complicit. Female genital mutilation is an ancient practice dating back to the pharaohs. 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. Dissemblers and deceivers claim that fgm is cultural phenomenon, not religious. 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.
As early as the 17th century, christian missionaries and colonial administrations in africa attempted to prevent. 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. 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 jewish and christian view on female genital mutilation. For example, fgm only occurs in islamic and islamicadjacent communities.
So what is fgm, and what are its religious underpinnings, if any. Prevalence of female genital mutilation by country. 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. In muslim societies, it is considered sunna, a religious tradition all that is. Pdf the history of islam had not itself been previously confronted with what is. 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. Goats and soda the bohras, an offshoot of shiite islam, practice cutting as a. Pdf the islamic view on female circumcision researchgate. For example, in ethiopia, muslims, christians, and jews have all practiced fgm though no faith endorses the act. A key tenant of islam is that one should not harm another persons body or ones own body. Islamic leaders must set fgm example for other religions.
Among social activists and feminists, combating female genital mutilation fgm is an important policy goal. Confronting americas false images of islam by paul findley 20010501. Islam, however, is a religion which recognizes the equal status of men and women in the eyes of. 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. The history of fgm is not well known but the practice dated back at least 2000 years. Fgmc procedures used to be carried out, and still are in very remote areas, by traditional. It is implicity mentioned in the quran if you doubt this then please read on and in at least. Most of them become victims of the practice before they are old enough to object. What is fgm, and what does it have to do with islam. Female genital mutilation fgm is a practice involving the removal of all or parts of the female external genitalia.
Its also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. An analysis of female circumcision according to islamic law al islam. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. The organization also states unequivocally that no form of female genital mutilation should be practiced by any health professional in any setting. An international islamist activist says such discussions shouldnt be aired publicly. Further, many nonmuslim communities and cultures practice fgm. Al hafez ibn hagar also states in his book talkhees al khabeer fi. 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. 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. Senior muslim religious authorities agree that fgm is neither required nor prohibited by islam. It also spurred a michigan state lawmaker to introduce antishariah legislation, even though the practice is not based on islamic law. Despite negative publicity, muslims in calgary continues. Arrest of doctor in detroit for female genital mutilation fuels debate by muslim sect in pakistan. 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.
Islamic texts are often used to justify fgmc in this region. International efforts to eliminate it also have a long history. It is a cultural practice thought to have been established centuries ago, though its origins appear to have been lost in the past. Intersectionality and womens rights advocacy in malawi. 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. One of the most controversial topics is female genital mutilation in religion and more commonly within islam. Islams is the only religion that mentions fgm in its sacred texts. Leaders try to squelch dar alhijrah female genital. 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.
However, within those muslim communities that carry. Fgm existed long before islam and it sadly persists today as a cultural tradition that traverses religious lines. The who defines the practice as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or. Thus, it has long been concluded to be a cultural practice, not connected to religion.
Researchers estimate more than 5,000 girls and women in the u. Confronting americas false images of islam by paul findley 20010501 on. As soon as i utter that fgm is good then they can arrest me. Establishment media treatments of female genital mutilation routinely insist that it has nothing to do with islam, but actually fgm is mandated in. Religious leaders in the uk must do more to crack down on female genital mutilation, a leading campaigner has warned. That is, do the local imams speak in support of the procedure, or do they routinely condemn it. Female genital mutilation world health organization. Delinking female genital mutilation cutting from islam unfpa.
Across the world, around 200 million women and girls in thirty countries are the victims of female genital mutilation fgm. In ayaan hirsi alis books, she gives a straightforward test for whether fgm is islamic or not. 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. In order to determine where islamic sharia stands as far as fgm is concerned we. The sudanese national committee on the eradication of harmful traditional practices and the campaign against female. As far as i can tell, it is routine in the islamic world for imams to speak in favour of fgm, though many are neutral, saying little about it. Female genital mutilation fgm occurs in many parts of the world, especially in africa. Female genital mutilation occurs in nonmuslim societies in africa and is practiced by christians, muslims and animists alike. The arrest reignited a discussion on female genital mutilation in the u. The world health organization condemns all forms of female genital mutilation and calls for the abolition of the practice. 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. The guardian on islam and female genital mutilation. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths.
Albaihaqqy in his book sunanalkubra the major traditions vol. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc, is practiced 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. No religious holy books mention or condone female genital mutilation. Reasons such as aesthetic, tradition and religion were mentioned, and to a lesser degree other reasons such as.