Female circumcision could cause infertility-study

[abdulhakeem]

By Patricia Reaney

LONDON, July 29 (Reuters) - Female circumcision, which is practised in more than 30 countries and affects 2 million girls each year, could cause infertility.

Swedish researchers, who examined nearly 300 women in Sudan where the practice is widespread, said on Friday women who had undergone circumcision, or female genital mutilation (FGM), were five to six times more likely to be infertile.

"All sorts of female circumcision, not only the severe forms, probably cause an increased risk of infertility. This is a very important argument to be used in areas where this is practised," Dr Lars Almroth, a paediatrician and researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in an interview.

Despite efforts to stop what human rights campaigners have described as an atrocity against womanhood, female circumcision is practised in Africa and is common in some countries in the Middle East. It involves the removal of part or all of the female genitalia.

An estimated 135 million women and girls have been circumcised, according to the human rights group Amnesty International.

It is considered part of the culture, a tradition or a rite of passage to adulthood. In some countries it is viewed as a means of reducing a woman's sexual desire and of safeguarding her fertility.

The research, which is published in The Lancet medical journal, is the first clinical study to show it has the opposite effect.

"We found that the more extensive form of genital mutilation, the higher the risk of primary infertility. The risk is very high -- 5 to 6 times higher -- than in the other group," Almroth said referring to women who had not been not circumcised.

He and his colleagues believe infertility may be caused by infection, inflammation, scarring or by the physical alterations resulting from the circumcision.

In Sudan up to 90 percent of women have had some form of genital mutilation. The average age of circumcision for women in the study was 7 but it is performed on girls as young as 4, according to Almroth.

In some countries crude instruments are used to perform the circumcision and nothing is given to relieve the girl's pain.

The researchers examined 99 infertile women and 180 others who were pregnant for the first time from two hospitals in Khartoum. They controlled for other factors that could cause infertility, such as sexually transmitted infections, age and social and economic conditions.

"It is only female circumcision that stands out," said Almroth.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28420895.htm

[abdulhakeem]

Female genital mutilation can cause infertility

29 July 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Gaia Vince

Children undergoing female genital mutilation risk infertility years later due to recurrent infections, a study in Sudan has found. The researchers hope their evidence will add valuable weight to those campaigning for a ban on the practice which affects millions of women and girls in Africa.

More than 132 million women and girls in Africa have undergone circumcision, the World Health Organization estimates – about two million per year – but until now, few scientific studies have examined the health effects of the procedure, which is often advocated locally on with the claim that it improves fertility.

Girls as young as 6 years old often suffer persistent recurring infections as a result of the traumatic procedure. This can leave many women infertile due to damage to the fallopian tubes, the joint team of scientists from Sweden and Sudan found.

Paediatrician Lars Almroth, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and colleagues studied 99 infertile women and 180 women who were pregnant for the first time, at two hospitals in Khartoum in Sudan. Women in the infertile group were included if their condition was not caused by hormonal factors, previous abdominal surgery or the result of their partner’s infertility.

All the women in the study had undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) as girls, and they were examined to discover the extent of the mutilation. This ranged from partial clitoridectomy to full excision of the clitoris, inner labia and external genitalia with the two cut sides then stitched together to close the vaginal opening to varying degrees.

The researchers found that the infertile women were significantly more likely to have undergone the most extensive form of FGM, involving the removal of the outer labia. The risk of infertility was related to the extent of anatomical mutilation and not simply the extent to which the vulva had been sutured or closed.

Immediate complications

“Children are bedridden for at least a week following mutilation and suffer immediate complications and infections of the reproductive system, and repeated urinary tract infections that often lead to kidney failure. But very, very few make it to hospital. As a result, the untreated infections of childhood ascend to the uterus and fallopian tubes causing scarring, inflammation and infertility,” says Almroth.

Infection is rife not only a result of the unsanitary conditions in which the surgery is performed, but also because the young age of the children lays them particularly open to infection. “A pre-pubescent girl’s vaginal [tract] is a low protective-oestrogenic environment, and the lack of vaginal acidity in these young girls allows the bacteria to thrive,” Almroth adds.

But it is not just blocked fallopian tubes that causes problems, he told New Scientist. The removal of genital tissue involves removing necessary glands. “Changes in the microfauna that result, means the vaginal environment may become unfavourable to sperm, and also less able to guard against constant infection leading to further inflammation – all of which reduces fertility.”

Social disaster

Almroth and his team hope their results can be used effectively by Non-Government Organisations to persuade influential leaders in Africa to speak out against FGM. “The message until now has been: It’s dangerous and causes complications. But villagers know that life is generally dangerous and complicated so, at most, they will try to medicalise the procedure and have it carried out by a doctor.

“But to say: ‘It could make you infertile,’ is a big thing. Fertility is so highly valued in Sudan that infertility is social disaster for a woman and for her family. This information could be a big tool.”

In a commentary accompanying the research in The Lancet, Layla Shaaban and Sarah Harbison, from the Bureau for Global Health in Washington, DC, US, write: “The importance of future fertility is deeply embedded in traditional social fabric. Legitimate concern about impairment of fertility can certainly weigh in heavily and help achieve the attainable goal of ending female genital mutilation.”

And Almroth hopes that greater awareness will encourage paediatricians in the West to look for signs of hidden morbidity in children of African descent who have had FGM, so that their infections can be recognised and treated early on.

Journal reference: The Lancet (vol 366, p 385)

Related Articles

Female circumcision does not reduce sexual activity (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2837) 24 September 2002
End of female circumcision? (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg17523600.400) 14 September 2002
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7752

[marjan]

I'll be cancelling my operation then

[annieg]

I'll be cancelling my operation then

Wise woman.

[abdulhakeem]

Female circumcision

Sunday, September 24, 2000

Female circumcision, or as is commonly termed by the West , female genital mutilation, has been a hot topic in many congresses and many NGOs (not to mention the media) for many years now. The public, however, has not been well informed on the subject, whether one means the West that hears about the subject in complete terror, or the East that practices the ritual in ignorance.

Dr. Abeer Barakat, assistant lecturer of public health, Cairo University, researched this subject in 1997, and with her study and some of our own research we will try to elucidate the public on this much discussed topic.

What is female circumcision?

Female circumcision is the partial or complete removal of the external genitalia, varying from removal of the prepuce (hood) of the clitoris only, to full excision of the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora.

Several classifications of female circumcision exist; one of which (for simplicity) is the following:

Clitoridectomy (1st degree circumcision) is the removal of the prepuce of the clitoris.
Excision (2nd degree circumcision) consists of removal of the prepuce and glands of the clitoris and often the removal of the whole of it.
Sunnah circumcision (3rd degree circumcision) includes excision and paring of the adjacent parts of the labia minora above the plane of the labia majora, or the removal of the whole of it.
Infibulation (4th degree circumcision) -or Pharaonic circumcision- consists of removal of all the external genitalia, the whole of the clitoris and the entire labia minora.
In the WHO classification one additional type called Type 4 exists which includes all other unclassified practices involving female genitalia. This includes: pricking, piercing or incising the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterization by burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues; introcision; scraping (angura cuts) or cutting (gishiri cuts) of the vagina or surrounding tissues; introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina; and any other procedure that falls under the definition of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Where did Female Circumcision originate?

Egypt

It is difficult to ascertain whether it was originally an old African puberty rite that reached Egypt by diffusion or a Pharaonic survival plan that fits within the Egyptian cultural patterns and has subsequently spread to other parts of Africa.

In a Greek papyrus in the British Museum dated 163 BC, reference is made to the circumcision of girls in Memphis at the age when they received their dowries.

However, Elliot Smith, the Egyptologist, stated that there is no evidence of infibulation in pre-dynastic or later Egyptian mummies.

Africa

Among the various tribes inhabiting the West Coast of the Red Sea, the Kreophagoi were said to mutilate their sexual organs and excise the genitals of their women in the Jewish manner.

Jesuit missionaries and others have referred to the prevalence of excision in Ethiopia from the earliest Christian times.

Other countries

The early Roman technique of slipping rings through the labia majora of their female slaves to prevent them from becoming pregnant, and similarly the chastity belt, introduced in Europe in the 12th century by the Crusaders, were intended as a barrier against unlawful sex. (The chastity belt was a chain belt that was locked and held a metal plate in the genital region with only an opening for urination.)

In the USA, a female circumcision and excision were forwarded by the Orificial Society, which was formed in 1890.

Anthropologists for some of the original inhabitants of Australia have reported Introcision, or cutting into the perineum to enlarge the vagina as a puberty rite, in the past.

How Prevalent is Female Circumcision?

In Egypt

The practice of female circumcision is widespread in Egypt. According to the Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) done in 1995, 97% of the ever-married females questioned had been circumcised. The prevalence was only 90%, however, with those with secondary or higher education as well as in the frontier provinces. According to other studies, two thirds of circumcised females showed a partial or total excision of the clitoris and labia minora, while partial or total excision of the clitoris was less common and of the labia minora only was least common. Labia majora excision occurred in one in eleven cases only.

In the Middle East:

Female circumcision is not practiced in the Middle East, or in the countries of the Arab Peninsula, with the exception of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

In Bahrain, genital operations are rapidly decreasing, and consist of a cut made over the clitoris.

It is not practiced in the cradle and of Islam, namely Saudi Arabia. Neither is it practiced in Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

In Africa

Documentation on the prevalence of different types of FGM began in the early twentieth century with reports by European travelers and missionaries.

Muslims, Christians, some animists and one Jewish sect practice FGM in Africa. But it is not a requirement of any of these religions. The distribution of the practice does not follow the distribution of these religious groups in the African continent. Infibulation is overwhelmingly the most common type of circumcision performed in Africa.

Through out the world:

FGM is reportedly practiced among a few groups in Asia and among some in Australia.

What are the reported reasons behind performance of female circumcision?

Many reasons exist for people of different cultures to perform this operation and they vary as much as the cultures themselves.

Chastity and preservation of virginity are the most common motivations for the performance of female circumcision. It is believed that by performing the operation in its mild form the sexual desire of the girl is decreased thus hindering the chances of sexual promiscuity. In its more severe forms, as in stitching the vaginal orifice, which occurs in some African communities, the girl is physically prevented from being approached sexually. The importance of maintaining virginity is utmost as the girl is meant to be approached only by her future husband and some think that female circumcision is one of the ways to ensure her virginity for that moment.
Tradition: the acceptable image of a woman with a place in society is that of one who is circumcised among other various characteristics. The fear of losing the psychological, moral, and material benefits of "belonging" is one of the greatest motivators of conformity. The notion of sexual victimization through performance of the operation is not felt while women and girls remain firmly within their own culture. However, unmarried girls who move into European circles are beginning to be conscious of it. It is difficult to assess the psychological damage of a tradition that is so universally accepted.
Hygienic motivations: It is believed that the secretions produced by the glands in the labia minora and majora are foul smelling, unhygienic and so make the female body unclean. However, in noncircumcised women, it is very easy to clean the external genitalia. It is only in the rare cases where there is a stricture of the prepuce of the clitoris (phimosis) or elongation of the prepuce (foreskin) that is difficult to clean; in such cases a properly done surgical circumcision without encroaching on the clitoris may be required.
Male approval: the argument that circumcision enhances male sexual performance is only valid where males have been conditioned to believe that sexual pleasure and prowess can only be achieved with circumcised women who are subdued and passive during the act itself.
Mystical and ritualistic factors: the circumcision ceremony (in many countries) includes many superstitious performances depending on the country of origin ranging from the time of day in which it is performed to wearing protective necklaces.
Education versus ignorance: statistics have proven that a strong relationship exists between the type circumcision chosen and the parents' education. Daughters of highly educated parents are commonly either not circumcised at all, or if circumcised, the 3rd degree or the intermediate type is chosen in preference to the 4th degree.
Financial motivation: the cost of the operation is beneficial to certain people who perform the operation such as traditional birth attendants and some qualified doctors who perform the operation.
Other reasons: some believe that female circumcision is one of the rites that allow passage of a girl from childhood to femininity. External genitalia are considered ugly and become more beautiful after circumcision.
The operation

The operation is performed in different communities by different people and with various tools. In more educated communities, a trained doctor performs the operation with sterilized equipment. In the more ignorant societies, a traditional birth attendant performs the operation using a variety of tools ranging from unsterilized knives and razors to sharp stones taken straight from the ground.

Complications of the operation

de range of complications exists in relation to female circumcision ranging from short-term to long-term. The short-term complications include bleeding, infection, pain, urinary retention, stress, shock, and damage to the urethra and anus. In the case of minor operations, most wounds heal with few long-term problems. Cases have been reported where girls have suffered repeated infections, soreness and intermittent bleeding for many years. The stitch used to tie the clitoral artery may not be absorbed totally, becoming the focus for an abscess. The tough scar over the clitoris may split open during childbirth.

Infibulation, on the other hand, is accompanied by an expansive list of long-term complications that needs further discussion out with this article. However, besides the greater risk of infections and general damage to the area, some complications include: hematocolpos, dysmenorrhea, pelvic infections and infertility, more frequent indication for Cesarean section delivery, difficulty in penetration during the wedding night due to tight scarring of the vaginal opening, dyspareunia and vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal fistulae.

The issue of sexual desire and satisfaction

The psychological aspect of human sexual arousal is a complex phenomenon that is not fully understood by experts. It involves emotions, concepts of morality, past experience, acceptance of eroticism, fear of disease or pregnancy, dreams, and fantasies. The combination of physical messages from sensory organs and the emotional images culminate in a psycho-physiological state during which a person is able to experience orgasm. The erection of the clitoris is only secondary to the higher center stimulation in which its function is to lead the stimulation to its destination and orgasm during a sexual act. So whether the clitoris is present or absent it makes no difference as regards chastity, as it has a secondary role.

Female orgasm has both clitoral and vaginal components. Evidence suggests that orgasms require clitoral stimulation while vaginal stimulation, though pleasurable, is a minor triggering mechanism: also direct clitoral stimulation is a greater stimulus than coitus, which causes pelvic pressure and traction on the clitoral hood.

With infibulation, there is destruction of practically all the nerve endings in the outer sex organs that convey the pleasurable sensations to the brain. She is left with the sensations from the vestibule at the vaginal orifice and the vagina itself whose nerve endings respond more to pressure than touch. If she has an orgasm then it is what is called "vaginal orgasm" in contrast to the more effective "clitoral orgasm." Studies performed found that 29.8% of infibulated women found sexual satisfaction or had orgasms compared to 48% of 1st degree circumcised women.

With clitoridectomy, some of the sensitive tissue at the base of the clitoris, along the inner lips and around the floor of vulva, are still intact and will give sensory sexual messages if properly stimulated. In addition, other sexually sensitive parts of the body, such as the breasts, nipples, lips, neck and ears may become hypersensitized to compensate for lack of clitoral stimulation and thus enhance sexual arousal.

In normal noncircumcised females, orgasm does not always occur. In excision, some local sensitive areas still exist in what is left of the clitoris, labia minora and vestibule, besides the pressure response of the vagina. This explains why, in spite of excision, about one third of those excised still get satisfaction and a pleasurable sensation and another 42% reach orgasm, compared to the 1st degree circumcision where 27% have satisfaction and 48% reach orgasm.

No satisfaction at all was present in 39% of infibulated women, 25% of those of 1st degree circumcision, and much less in the uncircumcised category.

In Dr. Barakat's study, in which 97.6% of those interviewed had excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora, 72.8% of the women experienced orgasms.

Are there documented medical indications for female circumcision?

Indications for female circumcision were documented in 1959 by an American physician, WG Rathmann MD, who performed many female circumcisions in the United States during his long years of practice. These indications in general terms are of functional need: lack of ability to have a climax or ability to have one only with considerable difficulty; and an anatomic or mechanical factor that needs correction.

According to Dr. Rathmann, the two common problems that make the highly sensitive area of the clitoris unable to be stimulated are phimosis and redundancy. Sebaceous glands around the clitoris attempt to prevent adhesions of the prepuce to it. This sometimes fails and the clitoris is adheres tightly to the prepuce. This defect may range from 25% of the normal surface adherent to complete coverage. A prepuce for the protection of the clitoris is normal and useful, but if it is excessive and extends past the eminence of the clitoris it can prevent contact and is harmful. In general, the greater the degree of phimosis or redundancy, the greater the probability of satisfactory results by its correction.

Religious aspects of the practice

Whatever the origin of female circumcision, it did not originate in the Islamic tradition, contrary to popular belief. Both Muslims and Christians have circumcised their daughters since early times, and there is considerable evidence that the practice existed long before Christianity and Islam. There is no question that female circumcision preceded Islam in Africa.

In relation to Islam there are some sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which are interpreted differently by Islamic scholars. In one of these sayings the Prophet (PBUH) says to Umm Atteya, "If you circumcise do not go deep (i.e. do not encroach on the clitoris) because it would be useful to the wife and desirable to the husband ".

The majority of Islamic scholars doubt the authenticity of these hadiths. This view was supported by the recent declaration of the present Sheikh (head) of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Tantawi, basing his declaration on many references, old and new, and among them some eminent Islamic scholars such as Sheikh Shaltout, a previous head of Al-Azhar.

Another previous Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Gad El-Haqq, was in favor of the authenticity of these hadiths and thus, favored circumcision, but on the condition that "it should not cut the clitoris or any part of it." "Only a part of the skin of the hood should be removed." "The operator should pay compensation if he removes or injures the clitoris".

The Health page of Islam-online does not address this subject to promote a certain opinion on the issue, whether for or against. However, we do feel that the public should know the different aspects on this issue.

http://www.islam-online.net/iol-english/dowalia/techng-2000-August-22/techng9.asp

[abdulhakeem]

islam-qa (check the links below) states that circumcision is obligatory for men and a honour for women.

people are often mixing up circumcision and fgm (these are two totally different matters as there is a difference between h o o d e c t o m y aka c l i t o r i d e c t o m y and c l i t o r i d o t o m y.

h o o d e c t o m y does no way touch the c l i t o r i s - just like male circumcision it makes the "glans" visible. its like a woman taking off the burkah. apart from the hygienic benefits of a circumcision there is a scientific article (http://sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000160EE-E53A-1C67-B882809EC588ED9F)which perhaps is not contrary to a fatwa at islam-qa (http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=9412&dgn=4)(quote: "With regard to the wisdom behind the circumcision of women, it is to regulate their desire so it will be moderate.") states that a h o o d e c t o m y may enhance the ability of some woman to achieve an orgasm i.e. many women suffer from a female phimosis which is the cause for their problems and which is mostly not recognised or overlooked by gynecologists.

apart from that i may assume that in rare or "abnormal" cases the c l i t o r i s might be touched or cut. that means when it is extremely large i.e. almost reaches the size of a penis (see: fatwa at islam-qa (http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=eng&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=427&dgn=4)). i guess that would apply only to hermaphrodites or people who consume lots of male hormones. thus it is considered as cosmetic surgery. anything else does not make sense.

in the hadeeth (it is either regarded as weak or there is a debate about the authentity of these hadeeth among scholars) it states that the circumcisor should not cut too much and be moderate - as it is more "pleasant" (some translate: "better") for the husband and the wife. this should answer all the questions. how can it be more pleasant or better if you cut in extremes? apart from that female circumcision is not required or obligatory for women.

hence, cutting in extremes i.e. c l i t o r i d o t o m y or fgm is not sunnah nor obligatory nor allowed in islam.

from another point of view (some food for thought) any surgery or operation even a haircut or cutting nails is a mutilation i.e. a manipulation of Allah's creation. its just that some are required as stated by the prophet salla Allahu 'alayhi wa salaam.

Allahu 'alam.

[Blink]

Horrifying. Completely horrifying. I had no idea!! I mean, I had HEARD of it, but I assumed that it was only practiced in little podunk villages where people didn't even have electricity or running water. To read (and I have read, all these articles that people have posted in here on this frightening topic) to read that it is being practiced in CAIRO and other modern cities and societies........ horrifies me completely. What on EARTH makes this okay for MUSLIMS to be doing??????

My GOSH I am so glad that I happened to see this thread two days ago!!
I was talking via email with an egyptian sister, regarding marriage!!! I seriously was!! Obviously finding this thread puts a stop to everything, and alhamdulillah!

Naturally I will stop all correspondence and will always remember NOT to pursue the topic of marriage with ANY egyptians. I will not run the risk of marrying a mutilated woman. My lord, what would have happened if she and I had had a DAUGHTER together?? Would I have been expected to smile and say "sure let's get to that doctor on her fifth birthday?" NOT!

Horrifying. Did I say that? Good! Let me say it again! It's horrifying!!!
Barbaric and evil, obviously terribly abusive and HORRIFYING.

[zaira]

I am a 30 year old British born nurse. I met and married an Egyptian doctor
several
years ago, lived in Egypt for several years and converted to Islam and underwent
female circumcision. I have no regrets.
Firstly I want to dispel any myths about what it is. It is NOT infibulation -
that's
something which occurs only in Sub-Saharan Africa and is strictly forbidden by
Islam.
Where female circumcision is practiced (and that is in Muslim countries from
North
Africa, through the Middle East to the Far East) female circumcision can be
described as
either of two forms - partial circumcision, where part or all of the clitoris and
inner
labia are removed or full circumcision where the labia majora are also removed.
The only
stitches put in are to surture the cuts made during the circumcision - and
definitely
NOT for the purpose of narrowing the vaginal opening.
Secondly, under Islam, all operations (including circumcisions!) must be carried
out under
medical conditions by qualified personel and using an anaesthetic where
appropriate.
There is no more reason for somebody in Egypt to go to a "back-street"
circumciser
than somebody in the West has cause to go to a "back-street" abortionist.
Neither is there anything barbaric about female circumcision. The authorities in
the
West know perfectly well that STRICTLY SPEAKING IN MEDICAL TERMS, partial female
circumcision is a more minor procedure than male circumcision. Where the cuts are
made,
there are fewer nerves or blood vessels cut than in male circumcision.
Complications
are almost non-existent. Even in the case of full circumcision complications are
hardly
greater than in male circumcision. This information is widely known in countries
that
practice female circumcision, but it is deliberately supressed by the West -
whether
you want to call it cultural imperialism, political correctness or just plain old
bigotry against those of different beliefs or religion is up to you.
Thirdly, the reasons for female circumcision are also deliberately misrepresented
by the
West. Female circumcision IS permitted under Islam and since the West has banned
it,
this is an attack on our religion. In the past female circumcision was considered
optional, but many (both ordinary people and religious scholars) now think that
it
should be mandatory because of the West's anti-Islamic predjudice.
The West also deliberately supresses the medical information relating to the
benefits of
female circumcision. Particularly in the case of Egypt where due to Western
pressure its
practice was banned for many years - but then permitted again some years ago -
substantial
comparative data has been gathered. [While female circumcision was banned it
nevertheless
continued to be practiced, although admittedly under less than perfect conditions
-
and this was one of the reasons why the Egyptian government lifted the ban].
Within a few years of the ban being lifted, female circumcison rates shot up from
90% in
the countryside and 50% in the cities to 97% throughout the country. It could be
clearly
seen from the data that, in the case of full female circumcision, genito-urinary
tract
infections were reduced to about 10% of their level in previously uncircumcised
women. Even
when only partial circumcisions were performed, there was still some preventative
benefit.
Also, and very importantly, births amongst circumcised women were found to be
easier. This
is exactly the opposite of what the Western "Feminist" and "Human Rights" groups
would have
you believe. With external genital tissue already removed, there was far less
need for
episiotomies. Caesarain births were reduced. Labour is generally shorter and
easier in
circumcised women and healing of the birth canal and the surrounding region much
easier.
Fourthly, another of the great myths put about by Western anti-female
circumcision groups
is that it stops a woman from enjoying sex. Nothing could be further from the
truth.
Female circumcision does remove unwanted and unintentional arousal, there is no
doubt about
that, but until you have undergone female circumcision you can't be aware of just
how
much involuntary (and completely unneeded) arousal occurs because of previously
unnoticed
rubbing or pressure on your genitals. Many women in Egypt who have been initially
partially
circumcised have opted for full circumcision because in day-to-day life it brings
about
a very profound feeling of contentment, calmness and satisfaction. You are
completely
freed from sexual thoughts, you can have no idea how liberating that feels. It is
like
removing an itch that you cannot scratch. There is no feeling of loss -
specifically
because the very thing that caused you to desire sex all the time has been
removed. Do not
believe the myth that sexual arousal is all in the mind.
So if arousal is removed, doesn't that mean sex is less enjoyable? It is exactly
the
opposite! Intercourse is far more pleasurable because the whole of the sexual act
is
made spiritual in nature and focuses entirely on intercourse with your husband.
Do
circumcised women still enjoy orgasms? OF COURSE THEY DO! With no external
genital
tissue in the way, penetration is deeper and more satisfying and with all
sensation
coming only from penetration, the resulting vaginal orgasim is deeply intense in
a
way that an uncircumcised woman could not understand.
Fifthly, there is also a great deal of hypocrisy from the West, particularly in
regard to plastic surgery. How can it be OK for Western women to have breast
surgery,
nose jobs or (dangerous) lipo-suction - all in the name of aesthetics, but it's
not
OK for a Muslim woman to change her body?
Sixth, it is well known in countries as far afield as Indonesia and Malasyia to
Egypt,
that girls who have been circumcised do better in school and university. How can
it be
that the West claims to champion women's rights but tries to deny Muslim girls
the right
to a better education, something that is closely correlated with the practice of
female circumcision in Muslim countries?
And finally what of the myth that female circumcision is dying out. Well the West
can
stick its head in the sand if it likes. It certianly suits us. Of course, if the
various "feminist", "human rights" and anti-female circumcision groups in the
West
were forced to confront the actual figures, then it might help expose the rest of
their
lies about female circumcision to their deceived populations.
Even the Western estimates acknowledge that as many as 200 million Muslim women
have been
circumcised world wide. They know that the number is growing both as the Muslim
population grows and as access to better medical facilities allows it to be
carried out
by a greater proportion of the Muslim population. In some countries like Egypt,
Malasia and Indonesia female circumcision is almost 100%. [Just think, if any of
you
go on holiday to Egypt all the women you pass (including any female doctors
and nurses) have undergone either partial or full female circumcision. How is it
that
they can be happy with their lifes and seek to continue the practice in what is
obviously an open, friendly and civilised country if they weren't happy with
being circumcised?] Its practice is now also spreading to other Muslims from
countries
like Pakistan, Northern India and Bangladesh - often it is now being found
amongst
Muslims who have settled in the West. I ask you this question, if a religious
practice
of yours was banned, do you think you would be more or less likely to continue
with
its practice?
It is only because of Muslims natural reluctance to talk openly about sex and
because
of the deliberate suppression of information from Muslim countries - including
interviews
with medical staff and Muslim women and who have been circumcised who argue
strongly for
it to continue - that there has been no open debate about the nature and benefits
of
female circumcision. The West claims to champion freedom of speech, freedom of
conscience and a rational approach to life and yet when it comes to female
circumcision
it couldn't be more irrational and hypocritical - instead it gives voice only to
hysterical lies from rabid pro-lesbian "feminist" and anti-Islamic groups. Are we
Muslims being told that some are more equal than others? Think how you would feel
if the situation was reversed.

[zaira]

CAIRO, Egypt — Midwives who visit the
Cairo slum where Aleya Mohamed lives
circumcise up to 20 girls in a day, cutting
off part of their genitals.
Mohamed underwent the procedure as a
child, and so did her daughter, Hanan Nasr.
But Nasr vows that her 4-year-old girl will
never know such pain, or the health problems
that can plague a woman for life after the
procedure, known as infibulation.
Two million girls a year have all or
part of their external genitals severed.
Their parents believe it will curb their sex
drive, keep them virgins until they marry and
make them faithful wives.
They call it female circumcision. The
United Nations and other opponents call it
female genital mutilation, unspeakable
violence against women.
Opponents are trying to eradicate the
practice, which is popular in Africa and
among some Muslims.
Medina Hassana, a 55-year-old woman,
is a circumcisor in a Somali refugee camp.
After she cuts off a girl’s genitals, she
stitches up the wound, leaving only a tiny
opening for urination and menstruation.
She described for U.N. officials what
happens after the procedure.
“When the legs are tied, the girl
must stay in bed for 10 days. ... She will
have problems urinating. When she gets her
menstruation, she will have kidney pains, she
will suffer. ... Then when this young woman
gets married, her husband will try and open
the stitching himself. If he can’t, then I
will cut her open. Sometimes the girl runs
away, it is so painful. If the girl decides
that she must endure this pain, she will
eventually get pregnant. And then I must cut
the genitals because she must give birth.
“Then after giving birth, I have to
stitch her again because the husbands are not
happy if she’s left like that. I have seen
many girls who run, they cannot endure this
pain and decide never to get married again. I
know this is a problem, but it is our
culture.”

[zaira]

A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) said to her: Do not cut severely as that is better for
a woman and more desirable for a husband.




Egypt Overturns Female Circumcision Ban
---------------------------------------


On Tuesday, June 24, Cairo Administrative Court Judge Abdul Aziz Hamade
overturned the Health Ministry's 1996 ban on female circumcisions. The
Judge claims that the Ministry cannot forbid a practice that parliament
does not consider illegal. Eight Islamic scholars and doctors challenged
the decree on the grounds that it interferes with religious beliefs and
physicians' rights to perform medical duties. The ruling was a victory for
Islamic fundamentalists who claim that female circumcision -- called
female genital mutilation by its critics -- protects women from what they
consider the consequences of excessive sexual desire as well as sexually
transmitted diseases and other maladies.

It also demonstrated the continued influence of Islamic fundamentalists
within Egyptian courts, whose conservative rulings on social and religious
issues are often at odds with the views of secular-minded ministers in the
military-backed government of President Hosni Mubarak.

Today's ruling, which prompted cheers from the predominantly male
audience, overturned a decree last July by Health Minister Ismail Sallam
banning doctors from performing the operation, which involves the full or
partial removal of the clitoris on girls before they reach puberty.

"I feel joyful," Sheik Yusef Badry, a conservative Islamic cleric who sued
to overturn the ban, said in a telephone interview this evening. "The
judge returned to Islam, and he recognized that [the sayings of the
Prophet Muhammad] ordered Muslims to do this operation. . . . A woman can
enjoy her sexual feelings with her husband, but if we cut off this piece,
she will be able to control herself."

Badry was joined in the lawsuit by Munir Fawzi, a British-trained
gynecologist and professor at Cairo's Ain Shams University who defends the
practice on both religious and medical grounds.

--

"It wasn't simply a medical procedure with certain risks. It was done in
the dirt with rocks and broken glass and no anesthesia.

Many other women were scarred for life, have urinary tract problems and
a reduced or non-existant sex-drive, plus serious complications like
sterility resulting from infection. Painful intercourse is common because
some girls are sewn up after the removal of the outer skin flaps. And
tradition in some North African areas dictated that the older women held
down the girl on her wedding day while her new husband forced intercourse
to break not only the hymen, but the sewn up opening to the vagina too.
This could be an extremely traumatic experience for *him* too. The girls
also suffered retention of menstral blood and infections of the
reproductive tract, or painful menstruations have occurred.


It is simply done - by force if necessary. Late teens and young women
(19-22 years old) who've managed to avoid it, have sometimes run up
against older relatives who have tried to force it upon them. Some have
fled their countries, only to be returned to their relatives who force the
procedure upon them. "

[Blink]

I've spent literally HOURS reading about this topic, not just the things posted here. I read the articles, I read the postings. I followed links and made some inquiries on my own, here in Texas within my own muslim community.

The good sis who took the trouble to type so much in this forum, has made MANY points.

I will not spend the hours it would take to address each and every one. But let me grab one or two:

If this were a VOLUNTARY procedure, done by adult women to their own bodies and by their own choices, then I wouldn't be typing anything on the topic at all. I'd be keeping my opinion to myself. And I understand that some women CHOOSE to have this done after they've matured and, about THAT, I have nothing at all to say.

But it's NOT. This is something forced on little girls who have no say-so in their own mutilation. And if you are going to try to tell me that a five yr old child has valid say-so in their own behalf, obviously I will disagree with you.
I am not alone in my disagreement either; for instance this is why there aren't any five-yr olds running any of our businesses, schools or countries.

There's a reason why they do it to little bitty girls, isn't there. Because they are too small to be able to stop anyone from doing it! The BETRAYAL on the part of the poor child, when her own parents take her to the doctors to have their most private parts sliced away... I cannot imagine!!

This isn't about cleanliness, so don't try THAT noise with me either. The "cleanliness" issue is exactly why Allah (swt) made soap and water.

This is simply about CONTROL, and nothing else. If it were not, then it wouldn't be done to children. They would wait until women were old enough to decide to have it done on their own, and that would be that.

I am going to unsubscribe from this disgusting thread, I have had enough.
The only reason that I even FOUND this thread, is, the chat is down.
Don't get me wrong! I needed to know about this, it has saved me from possibly marrying an egyptian woman. I am grateful to everyone who has posted about it, and I am grateful to Allah (swt) that I found the thread.

But I have had enough. I am sick to my stomach. I feel deep sincere pity, a profound sense of helplessness, and nothing but RAGE and sadness for each and every girl-child born within the borders of such a backwards and barbaric country that would make something like this perfectly "okay" to do.

Thank you for reading, and thank you to ummah-dot-com for making this forum available for all of us of such diametrically opposed opinions to get together and talk peaceably.

I won't be reading any more of this, and I won't submit anything further.
I agree to peaceably disagree with you on this frightening topic and I will leave it there. Salaam.

---Blink

[yunir]

I'm in support of Zaira's posts.......

Where I come from, female circumsision is done before the child reaches 1 yr old......
and this is applies to 100% all Muslim born female.

I still see Muslim babies aplenty........
:)

[zaira]

Dear yunir

You are from which country ?
write something about female
circumcision in your country


zaira

[yunir]

In some countries like Egypt,
Malasia and Indonesia female circumcision is almost 100%

Somewhere nearby.....

well, circumsision is done by trained specialists of course, and as mentioned before, done before the child reaches 1yr old. In fact, its usually done within the first 6 months........

I believe that the skin is much more softer and easily procedured on.
In exact how the circumcision is done, tht I have no details.....

And I'm not sure about converts/reverts though..........

Wassalam

[Al-Irhaab]

I have only one response to these people LYING B*******

this whole issue of female circumcision has come up because the west wants another reason to screw over muslim africa... they use these so called apologetic muslim to say female circumcision is the same as fgm and try to convince us to stay away from the sunnah of islam... the prophet (Saw) reccomended this to women so how can it be haram. Hajar (as) the wife of ibrahim (as) did this and it is known as her sunnah..

these little messed up retarted moderate muslims who want to launch a crusade for the west against the somali communities in europe go and rot in hell as far as im concerned they throw so much curse upon themselves and cause so much fitnah....and no im not from africa but this thing gets me so vexed because slandering my somali bros for no reason and causing fitna for them when probably theyre amongst the best deen wise in europe...

[salwa]

circumcision?? :scratch:


female??
:shock:

:outta: :nervous: :nervous: :nervous: :nervous:

[Iskender]

For some reason I'm reminded of "The Stepford Wives".

[abdulhakeem]

Female genital cutting

Female genital cutting (FGC) refers to a number of procedures performed for cultural (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture), rather than medical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgery), reasons on the female genitalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genitals). Although occasionally practiced by some doctors in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) until 1958, in recent years it is only common in parts of Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa) and by minority groups in some countries of the Middle East (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East). Less frequently, it occurs among some immigrant communities in parts of Asia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia) and the Pacific (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific), North (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America) and Latin America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America), and Europe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe). Opponents of these practices use the term female genital mutilation (FGM). The official term female circumcision is also in common usage, though advocates of male circumcision argue that this results in unwanted associations between the two practices.

Most Human rights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights) organizations in the West (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_civilization), Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa), and Asia consider female genital cutting rituals a violation of women's human rights. Among these groups and governments, they are regarded as unacceptable and illegal forms of body modification (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_modification) and mutilation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutilation) of those believed to be too young or otherwise unable to give informed consent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent).

Different forms

There are several distinct practices that are all generally referred to by this name. In particular, while female genital cutting is generally thought of in the West as involving the complete destruction of the female sexual organs in an effort to eliminate the female's sexual pleasure, in some forms female circumcision is claimed to be analogous to male circumcision (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_circumcision), in that both procedures can involve the removal of the prepuce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prepuce) and the frenulum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenulum).

In other cases, the procedure has no tissue removal at all, but is simulated with a knife as part of a ceremony, or with a symbolic drop of blood released with a needle. Those that involve tissue removal are usually divided into three major types.

C l i t o r i d o t o my

"C l i t oridotomy" (also called "hoodectomy" as a slang term) involves the removal or splitting of the c l i t o r a l hood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoral_hood). The United Nations Population Fund (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Population_Fund) states that this is comparable to male circumcision.[1] (http://www.unfpa.org/gender/faq_fgc.htm#4) In the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) and other Western countries, c l i t oridotomy is usually performed on adult women rather than on children. Sunna circumcision (named after the Arabic word for anything approved by Islamic law and centred in Islamic tradition: in fact, there is no genuine approval for this, and some Muslim clergy oppose all forms of FGC) may or may not involve the removal of part of the c l i t oris as well as the prepuce [2] (http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/gazette/volume54-1/03/).

Type I circumcision is defined by the World Health Organisation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organisation) as c l i t oridotomy and perhaps excision of part or all of the c l i t oris (c l i t oridectomy; see following section). However, some authors (e.g.., Cohen (http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2905103.html)) define type I as at least partial removal of the c l i t oris.

From the late 19th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century) until the 1950s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s), it and other more invasive procedures, including excision of the c l i t oris and infibulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infibulation) were practiced in Western countries to control female sexuality, and were advocated in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) by groups like the Orificial Surgery Society (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orificial_Surgery_Society&action=edit) until 1925 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925). According to Paige, doctors advocating or performing these procedures claimed that girls of all ages would otherwise engage in more masturbation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masturbation) and be "polluted" by the activity, which was referred to as "self-abuse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-abuse)" [3] (http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm).

Through the 1950s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s), some doctors continued to advocate c l i t oridotomy for hygienic reasons or to reduce masturbation. For example, C.F. McDonald wrote in a 1958 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958) paper titled Circumcision of the Female [4] (http://www.noharmm.org/circumfemale.htm),[5] (http://www.courtchallenge.com/refs/fgm2.gif), "If the male needs circumcision for cleanliness and hygiene, why not the female? I have operated on perhaps 40 patients who needed this attention." The author describes symptoms as "irritation, scratching, irritability, masturbation, frequency and urgency," and in adults, smegmaliths causing "dyspareunia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyspareunia) and frigidity." The author then reported that a two-year old was no longer masturbating so frequently after the procedure. Of adult women, the author stated that "for the first time in their lives, sex ambition became normally satisfied." In the U.S., the last documented c l i t oridotomy to reduce sexual activity occurred in 1958 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958). The procedure was performed on a 5-year-old girl, reportedly to stop her from masturbating. Justification of the procedure on hygienic grounds, or to reduce masturbation, has since declined. The view that masturbation is a cause of mental and physical illness has dissipated since the mid-20th century [6] (http://www.afraidtoask.com/masturbate/History.htm).

A few doctors and others advocate c l i t oridotomy of adults, promoting it as a way of increasing sexual sensitivity and sexual pleasure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_pleasure). One claim is that a large c l i t oral hood may make stimulation of the c l i t oris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoris) difficult. Websites promoting the practice Circlist (http://www.circlist.com/femalecirc/anatfemale.html), bmezine (http://bmezine.com/) and The C l i t oral Hood Removal Information Page (http://www.geocities.com/hoodectomy/hoodectomy.html) contain testimonials and two of them provide summaries of medical studies (http://www.geocities.com/hoodectomy/MedicalStudies.htm), including several finding that the majority of women reported improved sensation following the procedure (for example, 87.5% in Rathmann's (http://www.noharmm.org/femcirctech.htm) 1959 study, and 75% in Knowles', as quoted in the summary of studies mentioned previously).

C l i t o r i d e c t o m y

C l i t oridectomy means the partial or total removal of the external part of the c l i t oris. It was sometimes practiced in English-speaking nations in the first half of the Twentieth Century to stop masturbation. [7] (http://www.fgmnetwork.org/articles/duffy.htm). It is, however, quite common in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, east-Africa, Egypt, Sudan, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Type II circumcision is more extensive than type I, meaning c l i t oridectomy and sometimes also removal of the labia minora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labia_minora).

(There are reports that some women in certain "alternative lifestyles" communities in the United States have sought c l i t oridectomy because they are intrigued by the drama of the sacrifice involved, while others seek the procedure in the hope that the pleasure in their buttocks and anal region will be greatly enhanced if the distraction of genital sensation is eliminated.)

Neurectomy, or severing of the pubic nerve to permanently numb the genitals and approximate the effect of a c l i t oridectomy was performed on institutionalized girls and women around the turn of the 20th Century in America and Australia, and electrical cauterization of the c l i t oris was reported to have been occasionally performed on mental patients in the USA to stop them from masturbating as recently as 1950.

The kind of things that sometimes happened to girls and women were documented in Alex Comfort's book, "The Anxiety Makers", Panther Edition, London, 1968:

About 1858, Dr Isaac Baker Brown, later president of the Medical Society of London, introduced the operation of c l i t oridectomy for the consequences of what he coyly calls 'peripheral excitement'. These, in his view, included epilepsy, hysteria and the convulsive disorders generally. (page 109) In 1866 Brown published a series of 48 of such cases. This caused what Comfort called an 'almighty row'. Dr Baker Brown was ejected from the Obstetrical Society. Comfort says (page 111) that 'c l i t oridectomy fortunately disappeared from England'. However, it was taken up in the United States:

In 1894, we find Dr. Eyer of the St. John's Hospital, Ohio, dealing with nervousness and masturbation in a little girl by cauterizing the c l i t oris; this failing, a surgeon was called in to bury it with silver wire sutures - which the child tore and resumed the habit. The entire organ was then excised, with the crura. Six weeks after the operation the patient is reported as saying, 'You know there is nothing there now, so I could do nothing.' (Comfort, ibid, page 111) Comfort says that this concern about masturbation 'did not really die out completely until the 1940s with the statistical studies of Kinsey' (Comfort, ibid, page 119)

I n f i b u l a t i o n

The form of female circumcision regarded as the most severe is Type III, which is also referred to as infibulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infibulation) or pharaonic circumcision. This is often carried out by a "gedda," or matron of the village, without anaesthetic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaesthesia), on girls between the ages of two and six.

Infibulation replaces the vulva (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulva) with a wall of flesh from the pubis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pubis) to the anus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anus), except for a pencil-size opening at the inferior portion of the vulva to allow urine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urine) and menstrual blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstruation) to pass through. A reverse infibulation is where the opening is left in the anterior part of the vulva in front of the uretha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uretha). After excision, the labia are sewn together, and since the skin is abraded and raw after being cut, the two surfaces will join via the natural healing and scar-formation process to form a smooth surface. The girl's legs are tied together for around two weeks to prevent her from moving the wound. [8] (http://www.cirp.org/pages/female/pieters1)

The sewn-together labia majora are slightly opened before sexual intercourse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_intercourse) by the girl's husband (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husband) — girls will often be married at 12–16 years old — or by his female relatives, whose responsibility it is to inspect the wound every few weeks and open it some more if necessary.

During childbirth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth), the enlargement is too small to allow vaginal delivery, and so the infibulation must be opened completely and restored after delivery. Once again, the legs are tied together to allow the wound to heal, and the procedure is repeated for each subsequent act of intercourse or childbirth. When childbirth takes place in a hospital, the surgeons may preserve the infibulation by enlarging the vagina with deep episiotomies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episiotomy). Afterwards, the patient may insist that her vagina be closed again so that her husband does not reject her. [9] (http://www.cirp.org/pages/female/pieters1)

This practice is reported to cause the disappearance of sexual pleasure for the women affected, as well as major medical complications, although advocates of the practice deny this, and continue to carry it out.

Other types of female circumcision

Other forms are collectively referred to as Type IV. This includes a diverse range of practices, including pricking the c l i t oris with needles, burning or scarring the genitals as well as ripping or tearing of the vagina. Type IV is found primarily among isolated ethnic groups as well as in combination with other types.

Areas of practice

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/Fgm_map.gif
Fgm_map.gif (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/Fgm_map.gif) (7KB, MIME type: image/gif)


On 2002-06-19 06:37:23, Hefaistos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Hefaistos) uploaded file fgm_map.gif
Map showing rates of female genital mutilation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_mutilation) in Africa.

By afrol News.

Source appears to be http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Women/FGM/netscapeindex.htm (http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Women/FGM/netscapeindex.htm) ; according to the note at the bottom of the page, permission is granted to freely reproduce their graphics so long as "their origin is clearly referred to".

Female genital cutting is today mainly practiced in African (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa) countries. It is common in a band that stretches from Senegal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal) in West Africa to Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia) on the East coast, as well as from Egypt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt) in the north to Tanzania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania) in the south. In these regions, it is estimated that more than 95% of all women have undergone this procedure. It is also practiced by some groups in the Arabian peninsula [10] (http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm), especially among a minority (20%) in Yemen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen).

The practice is known to exist throughout the Middle East (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East), though it is veiled in secrecy, unlike in parts of Africa, where it is practiced relatively openly. The practice occurs particularly in northern Saudi Arabia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia), southern Jordan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan), and Iraq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq), and there is also circumstantial evidence to suggest it is present in Syria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria), western Iran (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran), and among the Bedouin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin) population of Israel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel).[11] (http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0810/p06s01-woiq.html?s=t5) In Oman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman) a few communities still practice FGC; however, experts believed that the number of such cases was small and declining annually. In the United Arab Emirates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates) and also Saudi Arabia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia), it's practiced among some foreign workers from East Africa and the Nile Valley.

The practice can also be found among a few ethnic groups in South America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America) and India (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India). In Indonesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia) [12] (http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/crfgm/10102.htm) and Malaysia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia) the practice is fairly common among the country's Muslim women; however, in contrast to Africa, almost all are Type I or Type IV (involving a symbolic prick to release blood) procedures.

The practice is particularly common in Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia), followed by Egypt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt), Sudan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan), Ethiopia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia) and Mali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali). Among ethnic Somali women, infibulation is traditionally almost universal. In the Arab peninsula, sunna circumcision is usually performed, especially among Arabs (ethnic groups of African descent are more likely to prefer infibulation).

Amnesty International (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International) estimates that over 130 million women worldwide have been affected by these procedures, with over 2 million being performed every year.

In modern times, the practice has spread to Europe and the U.S. due to immigration. Some tradition-minded families have the procedure performed while on vacation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacation) in their home countries.

Cultural background

Female genital cutting is primarily a social practice, not a religious one. It is today a mainly African cultural practice. It crosses the lines of various religious groups. It is found among Muslims, Christians, African Jews (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Jews) and Animists. [13] (http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm#a11)

A number of reasons are put forward for the practice of FGC. These include the belief that it annuls or moderates sexual desires (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexuality) in women. It is also believed that it is more hygienic. Frequently the practice is associated with traditional initiation rites (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initiation_rite). Some believe religion justifies the practice.

In some cultures there exists the belief that a newborn child has elements of both sexes. In the male body the foreskin of the penis is considered to be the female element. In the female body the c l i t oris is considered to be the male element. Hence when the adolescent is reaching puberty, these elements are removed to make the indication of sex clear.

The operation is most often carried out by female practitioners. Thus it has been attributed by some authors to a deep-rooted fear of elder women that the more attractive younger women might seduce away their husbands and thus leave them without support.

Many African Muslims believe that female circumcision is required by Islam. In fact, no form of genital modification and mutilation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genital_modification_and_mutilation) is mentioned in the Qur'an (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an), but only in a disputed hadith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith). [14] (http://www.minaret.org/fgm.htm) Even then, the hadith only permits and does not require the process. Only one of the four Islamic schools of juriprudence or law, the Shafi'i school, allowed for a "slight trimming" of the tip of the c l i t oris, supposedly in order to enhance sexual pleasure for the woman. Most contemporary scholars reject it completely.

In Saudi Arabia (Hijaz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijaz)), where Islam originated, FGC was practised during the life-time of Muhammad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad). To call a man a "circumciser of women" was an insult among the pagan Arabs at the time. There is no evidence concerning whether this was practised on Muhammad's daughters, but according to his wife Aisha, Muhammad defined lawful intercourse as something that happens when the circumcised parts of the male and female touch each other. Muhammad also recommended in a hadith that the circumcision of females should not be too severe.


Some Muslim scholars believe FGM is practiced more as a result of ignorance and misconceived religious fervor, than for reasons of true religious doctrine, and any religious basis for the practice is denied. Many Arab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab) Muslims interpret different passages as being in opposition to FGC, and believe the practice to be un-Islamic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam). Shaykh Faraz Rabbani states "As for excision, FGM, or other harmful practices [including that which take sexual pleasure away from women], which have become culturally widespread, none of these are in any way permitted."[15] (http://www.sunnipath.com/) Amnesty International asserts that "FGM predates Islam and is not practised by the majority of Muslims, but has acquired a religious dimension." [16] (http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm#a3)

A few others, like the Egyptian Mufti (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mufti) Sheikh Jad Al-Hâqq 'Ali Jad Al-Hâqq issued, in 1994 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994), a fatwa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatwa) stating: "Circumcision is mandatory for men and for women. If the people of any village decide to abandon it, the [village] imam must fight against them as if they had abandoned the call to prayer." [17] (http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Area=reform&ID=SP72104) Al-Azhar University has issued fatwas in 1949, 1951 and 1981 which endorsed the practice. [Gad-al-hak: Khitan al banat, pp. 3119-3125, in Sami A. Aldeeb, Mutiler, Institut Suisse de Droit Comparé, 1993, p. 191.]

It is also common among African Christians in some countries, and believed to be justified on religious grounds. For example, in Ethiopia some "Coptic Christian priests refuse to baptize girls who have not undergone one of the FGM procedure." [18] (http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/crfgm/10098.htm)

Medical consequences

Among practicing cultures, FGC is most commonly performed between the ages of four and eight. As with most plastic surgery, advocates of it believe it should be performed under hygienic conditions and with the application of an appropriate anaesthetic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaesthesia). However,this technology has only been available for a relatively short time, and even today the procedure is usually carried out without anesthesia and under unsanitary conditions. As with any procedure, FGC can be extremely painful and dangerous to health when not performed hygienically. Some argue that making the process illegal drives it underground and thus puts the recipients at greater risk. Some opponents of the practice argue that the deterrent effect of prohibition outweighs such risks.

Practices such as infibulation, when carried out with shards of glass and other unsanitary tools, can commonly cause infections (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infection), sometimes resulting in death or serious long term health effects. These include urinary and reproductive tract infections (caused by obstructed flow of urine and menstrual blood), various forms of scarring and infertility (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infertility). First sexual intercourse will always be extremely painful, and infibulated women also need to open the labia majora carefully. Sexual pleasure through stimulation of the external part of the c l i t oris, almost universally regarded outside of practicing cultures as an important part of typical female sexuality, is of course eliminated.

Prohibition has led to FGC being undertaken without any anaesthetic or sterilization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_%28surgical_procedure%29), and by persons with no medical training. The procedure, when performed without any anaesthetic, can lead to death through shock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock) or excessive bleeding. The failure to use sterile medical instruments can lead to infections and the spread of disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease), such as AIDS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS), especially when the same instruments are used to perform procedures on multiple women.

The health consequences of FGC vary from region to region and from researcher to researcher. An in-depth analysis by Carla Obermeyer (2003) shows that past studies, plagued by “incomplete analysis” and “inconsistent numbers”, have greatly overestimated the likelihood of serious medical complications resulting from FGC procedures (401). She notes that there is no significant statistically represented relationship between FGC and sexually transmitted diseases/infections, infertility or birth complications (402). Her study is not intended to portray FGC as harmless, simply to illustrate the inadequacy of the health data that anti-FGC advocates and organizations rely upon to justify their opposition.

As anthropologist Fuambai Ahmadu (2000) pointed out, her experience with ritual excision, though painful, empowered her as a woman in the Kono culture of Sierra Leone, increased her sexual sensitivity, and (due to its partial medicalization) led to no health problems beyond the initial heavy bleeding. She claims it did not interfere with her transnational life at all (305), thus was not “anti-progress”, and argues for its complete medicalization, not elimination (304).

Female Genital Cutting and Human Rights

FGC enters human rights discourse primarily on the basis of three issues: informed consent, patriarchal oppression, and violence against women. The issue of informed consent mirrors the debate about male circumcision though with far more intensity. African feminists generally reject the imported women's rights discourse that universally adopts an assumption of male dominance, and prefer instead to realize their gender roles on their own terms. The violence against women claim is complicated by the fact that the ritual is primarily continued by women and often against the wishes of a growing majority of men. African feminists are aware that this issue is a convenient tool for powerful political units to manipulate in pursuing hidden agendas.

For example, Hillary Clinton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton), then first lady, stated in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China that “it is a violation of human rights when young girls are brutalized by the painful and degrading practice of genital mutilation”. The Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995) makes ten mentions of female genital “mutilation” in a call to “prohibit” FGC, “enact and enforce legislation” and “give priority to…educational programmes…that emphasize the elimination of harmful attitudes and practices, including female genital mutilation…and recognizing that some of these practices can be violations of human rights and ethical medical principles”. By legitimizing FGC as a human rights violation, the United States passed 22 U.S.C.A. 262k-2 in 1997, a broadly worded law that effectively outlaws female "circumcision" all over the world by threatening the denial of loans and aid from the eight largest international banks.

...

[abdulhakeem]

...


Legal status

FGC is prohibited in several Western countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_countries). Not all countries ban all types of procedure. For instance Type I procedures (for medical reasons only), and any form on adult women, are openly available in the USA, whereas, in the UK there is an outright ban even on this elective surgery taken by mature adults. In Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada), just running the risk of female genital mutilation is already sufficient reason to obtain the political asylum status. In France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France), in recent years several women excising minor girls have been handed prison sentences up to five years; [19] (http://www.droitsenfant.com/excision.htm) courts have also handed sentences between 6 and 15 months for parents. [20] (http://www.humanite.presse.fr/journal/1999-02-17/1999-02-17-443296)

Some countries in the area of practice have also prohibited FGC but the practice goes on in secret. In many cases, the enforcement of this prohibition is a low priority for governments. Some countries have tried to medicalize the procedure while in other countries there is no prohibition.

There is a growing movement in the West to see the practice on minors prohibited throughout the world. Advocates of the procedures argue that this is an example of Western cultural imperialism, while opponents of the procedures argue that human rights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights) are universal and not subject to cultural exceptions, and that such involuntary practices are a severe violation of human rights.

Laws/Enforcement in Countries where FGC is Commonly Practiced, according the US State Department:

Burkina Faso (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso): A law prohibiting FGC was enacted in 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996) and went into effect in February 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997). Even before this law, however, a presidential decree had set up the National Committee against excision and imposed fines on people guilty of excising girls and women. The new law includes stricter punishment. Several women excising girls have been handed prison sentences. [21] (http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/1998/09/STOLZ/10970)


Central African Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Republic): In 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996), the President issued an Ordinance prohibiting FGC throughout the country. It has the force of national law. Any violation of the Ordinance is punishable by imprisonment of from one month and one day to two years and a fine of 5,100 to 100,000 francs (approximately US$8-160). We are unaware of any arrests made under the law.


Côte d'Ivoire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire): A December 18 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_18), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998) law provides that harm to the integrity of the genital organ of a woman by complete or partial removal, excision, desensitization or by any other procedure will, if harmful to a women's health, be punishable by imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 360,000 to two million CFA Francs (approximately US$576-3,200). The penalty is five to twenty years incarceration if the victim dies and up to five years' prohibition of medical practice, if this procedure is carried out by a doctor.


Djibouti (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibouti): FGC was outlawed in the country's revised Penal Code that went into effect in April 1995. Article 333 of the Penal Code provides that persons found guilty of this practice will face a five year prison term and a fine of one million Djibouti francs (approximately US$5,600).


Egypt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt): There is no law in Egypt specifically against FGC. There are provisions under the Penal Code involving "wounding" and "intentional infliction of harm leading to death", however, that might be applicable. There have been some press reports on the prosecution of at least 13 individuals under the Penal Code, including doctors, midwives and barbers, accused of performing FGC that resulted in hemorrhage, shock and death. There also is a ministerial decree prohibiting FGC. In December 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997), the Court of Cassation (Egypt's highest appeals court) upheld a government banning of the practice providing that those who do not comply will be subjected to criminal and administrative punishments.


Ghana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana): In 1989 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989), the head of the government of Ghana, President Rawlings, issued a formal declaration against FGC and other harmful traditional practices. Article 39 of Ghana's Constitution also provides in part that traditional practices that are injurious to a person's health and well being are abolished. There is the opinion by some that the law has driven the practice underground.


Guinea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea): FGC is illegal in Guinea under Article 265 of the Penal Code. The punishment is hard labor for life and if death results within 40 days after the crime, the perpetrator will be sentenced to death. No cases regarding the practice under the law have ever been brought to trial. Article 6 of the Guinean Constitution, which outlaws cruel and inhumane treatment, could be interpreted to include these practices, should a case be brought to the Supreme Court. A member of the Guinean Supreme Court is working with a local NGO on inserting a clause into the Guinean Constitution specifically prohibiting these practices.


Indonesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia): Officials are preparing to release a decree banning doctors and paramedics from performing FGC. FGC is still carried out extensively in Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim nation. Azrul Azwar, The director general of community health, stated that, "All government health facilities will also be instructed to spread information about the decision as well as the redundancy of female circumcision" [22] (http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/06/02/circumcision050602.html)


Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria): There is no federal law banning the practice of FGC in Nigeria. Opponents of these practices rely on Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that states "no person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment" as the basis for banning the practice nationwide. A member of the House of Representatives has drafted a bill, not yet in committee, to outlaw this practice.


Senegal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal): A law that was passed in January 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999) makes FGC illegal in Senegal. President Diouf had appealed for an end to this practice and for legislation outlawing it. The law modifies the Penal Code to make this practice a criminal act, punishable by a sentence of one to five years in prison. A spokesperson for the human rights group RADDHO (The African Assembly for the Defense of Human Rights) noted in the local press that "Adopting the law is not the end, as it will still need to be effectively enforced for women to benefit from it."


Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia): There is no national law specifically prohibiting FGC in Somalia. There are provisions of the Penal Code of the former government covering "hurt", "grievous hurt" and "very grievous hurt" that might apply. In November 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999), the Parliament of the Puntland administration unanimously approved legislation making the practice illegal. There is no evidence, however, that this law is being enforced.


Tanzania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania): Section 169A of the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act of 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998) prohibits FGC. Punishment is imprisonment of from five to fifteen years or a fine not exceeding 300,000 shillings (approximately US$380) or both. There have been some arrests under this legislation, but no reports of prosecutions yet.


Togo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo): On October 30 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_30), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998), the National Assembly unanimously voted to outlaw the practice of FGC. Penalties under the law can include a prison term of two months to ten years and a fine of 100,000 francs to one million francs (approximately US$160 to 1,600). A person who had knowledge that the procedure was going to take place and failed to inform public authorities can be punished with one month to one year imprisonment or a fine of from 20,000 to 500,000 francs (approximately US$32 to 800).


Uganda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda): There is no law against the practice of FGC in Uganda. In 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996), however, a court intervened to prevent the performance of this procedure under Section 8 of the Children Statute, enacted that year, that makes it unlawful to subject a child to social or customary practices that are harmful to the child's health.
Ending Forms of female genital cutting

Despite laws forbidding the practice, FGC has proven to be an enduring tradition difficult to overcome on the local level with deeply held cultural and sometimes political significance. For instance, prohibition of the procedure among tribes in Kenya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya) significantly strengthened resistance to British colonial rule in the 1950s and increased support for the Mau Mau (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Mau) guerilla movement. During that period, the practice became even more common, as it was seen as a form of resistance towards colonial rule.

The difficulty lies significantly in the fact that the practice, as an identifying feature of indigenous culture, is intimately associated with the endogamous potential of young women. Thus for only one or a few families within a given locale to "deprive" their daughters of the operation is to significantly disadvantage them in finding husbands. This damages the survivability of their culture in a hostile "globalizing" social environment.

Because the practice holds such cultural and marital significance, anti-"circumcision" activists increasingly recognize that to end the practice it is necessary to work closely with local communities. What must happen, some have noted, is that marriage networks must give up the practice simultaneously so no individuals are handicapped, as happened, for example, under similar circumstances with the rapid abandonment of foot binding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding) among the Chinese early in the 20th century.

Often activists working for the practice's elimination offer a universalizing psychological rational. Working from an axiom of a "normal" psyche, they commonly assume that female genital cutting rituals represent deviance from a transcultural behavioral norm. Of course, these rituals are seen in these cases as violent disfigurment, likened to child abuse and rape. They seek to bring practicioners and "victims" of such "barbarism" to reason by convincing them that the practice was indeed a wrong-doing. This attitude is an echo of the colonial and missionary campaigns agaist the practice in the first half of the 20th century.

An example of successful efforts to end the practice is occurring in Senegal, initiated by native women working at the local level in connection with the Tostan Project. (http://www.tostan.org/) Since 1997, 1,271 villages (600,000 people), some 12% of the practicing population in Senegal, have voluntarily given up FGC (female genital cutting) and are also working to end early and forced marriage. This has come about through the voluntary efforts of locals carrying the message out to other villages within their marriage networks in a self-replicating process. By 2003, 563 villages had participated in public declarations, and the number continues to rise. By then, at least 23 villages in Burkina Faso had also held such community wide ceremonies, marking "the first public declaration to end FGC outside of Senegal and showing the replicability of the Tostan program for large-scale abandonment of this practice".

This indigenous movement began with a few women who had participated in a literacy program that taught women skills in research, project management and social advocacy. The program also included neutrally presented facts about female reproduction and the health effects of female circumcision (see Obermeyer above for counter-point to presumed "neutrality"). Students did group projects as the culmination of their 18-month training and one such group chose the topic of FGC for their project. Having received assurance from their local imam during their research that the practice was a custom and not a religious requirement, they went on to create dramatic reenactments of the suffering and deaths the practice had brought to their own lives and to share them throughout their village. At the end of a year, their entire village of some 15,000 people joined in a public ceremony to collectively reject the practice for their daughters and prospective daughters-in-law. From there, the imam and other leaders in their village began visiting other villages within the local marriage network and sharing their story. As a result, the new practice began to spread.

Female genital cutting in popular culture

The subject of FGC has been addressed by many prominent authors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Author), singers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer) and performers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor) across the world. Some examples:

Possessing the Secret of Joy (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Possessing_the_Secret_of_Joy&action=edit), a novel by Alice Walker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Walker)
Desert Flower (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desert_Flower&action=edit), a novel by Waris Dirie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waris_Dirie)
The Years of Rice and Salt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Years_of_Rice_and_Salt), a novel by Kim Stanley Robinson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Stanley_Robinson) (Book Nine features extracts from fictional articles protesting female circumcision)
"Cornflake Girl (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cornflake_Girl&action=edit)", a song by Tori Amos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Amos)
Rüdiger Nehberg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%BCdiger_Nehberg)
Moolaadé (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moolaad%C3%A9&action=edit), a film by Ousmane Sembène (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ousmane_Semb%C3%A8ne)
The Whole Woman, a book by Germaine Greer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer)
"No Laughter Here," a novel by Rita Williams-Garcia
Also, a documentary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_film) entitled "Warrior Marks (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warrior_Marks&action=edit)" has been done on the practice by Alice Walker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Walker), the author of The Color Purple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Purple). Walker subsequently wrote a book of the same name, which is about her travels and experiences while making the documentary.

References


Pieters G, Lowenfels AB. "Infibulation in the horn of Africa," N Y State J Med 1977;77(5):729-31.


Female “Circumcision” in Africa: Culture, Controversy, and Change. Eds. Shell-Duncan and Hernlund. Lynne Rienner Publishers: Boulder, 2000.


Obermeyer, Carla Makhlouf. The Health Consequences of Female Circumcision: Science, Advocacy, and Standards of Evidence. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 17(3), 2003. 394-412.
Further reading

Female Genital Mutilation - A Human Rights Information Pack (http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm) by Amnesty International
Female Genital Mutilation from the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/index.html)
The Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project (http://www.fgmnetwork.org/)
U.S. State Department estimates of prevalence of FGC in Africa (http://www.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/9276.htm)
Map:Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa (http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Women/FGM/netscapeindex.htm)
Article from ReligiousTolerance.org decrying FGC (http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm)
A Human Rights Organisation called "Target", founded by Rüdiger Nehberg in 1998 (http://www.target-human-rights.com/)
Medical Studies on C l i t oral Hood Removal (http://www.geocities.com/hoodectomy/MedicalStudies.htm)
Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in a Modern Muslim Society (ISBN 0470596139 (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Booksources&isbn=0470596139))
Infibulation Explained (http://www.lockmeup.com/cb/facts/pinkerton-infibulation.html)
Tostan Project (http://www.tostan.org/)
Infibulation in the Horn of Africa (http://www.cirp.org/pages/female/pieters1)
STOP!FGM worldwide campaign of No Peace Without Justice (http://www.npwj.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=listarticles&secid=11)
Daw, E.: "Female circumcision and infibulation complicating delivery," Practitioner, 204:559 (1970).
Dewhurst, C.J., and Michealson, A. British Medical Journal, 2:1442 (1964)
Mustafa, A.Z. "Female circumcision and infibulation in the Sudan", Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Brit. Comm., v73:302 (1966).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FGM

[Billie]

"It wasn't simply a medical procedure with certain risks. It was done in
the dirt with rocks and broken glass and no anesthesia.

Many other women were scarred for life, have urinary tract problems and
a reduced or non-existant sex-drive, plus serious complications like
sterility resulting from infection. Painful intercourse is common because
some girls are sewn up after the removal of the outer skin flaps. And
tradition in some North African areas dictated that the older women held
down the girl on her wedding day while her new husband forced intercourse
to break not only the hymen, but the sewn up opening to the vagina too.
This could be an extremely traumatic experience for *him* too. The girls
also suffered retention of menstral blood and infections of the
reproductive tract, or painful menstruations have occurred.


It is simply done - by force if necessary. Late teens and young women
(19-22 years old) who've managed to avoid it, have sometimes run up
against older relatives who have tried to force it upon them. Some have
fled their countries, only to be returned to their relatives who force the
procedure upon them. "




omg :shock: this is truly barbaric.......i'm sorry but i dont believe in this.......i have an english translation of the Holy Quran and nowhere in it does it mention the barbaric & insane act. But, i will investigate this further for firm evidence.

[muslim_sis]

female Circumcision is not from Islam !!! :eek3:

and my father is from North Africa (algeria) and we have lots of family and friends ,and they sure do NOT do that !!!! so i dunno where that came from ... the sewing up stuff... from what i knw,it is some traditional thing ,confused with religion in Somalia (not that all somalians practise it,so im not generalising)and yeh it does sound disgusting and painful too,y wud people want to torment themselves or families like dat !!! ... but anyway the only thing that ur kind of right about is the fact that ''traditional'' families in that part of Africa tend to sleep at a brides house to ''confirm'' things breaking on the first night of their marriage... and yes think that too is :nervous:freaky

Ws

[muslim_sis]

were there these innovations or shall i say bid'ah in the prophets time !?

[WH]

female Circumcision is not from Islam !!! :eek3:

More of that damned cultural/ traditional baggage that some stupid dude down the line mixed with our beautiful religion. Man, if I could time travel (no I cannot so dont make any requests) I would find that guy and shhot him- prferably in the knee cap, or the toe, no no I think he deserves the knee cap seen as it is all bid'ah and all.

[peace2u]

I highly doubt female circumcision is from the sunnah of Islam, if it is, please provide evidence.


Peace

[Al-Irhaab]

Prophet http://63.175.194.25/images/saws.gif (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him), according to which he said: "Circumcision is a Sunnah for men, and an honour for women,"

How circumcision is to be performed is mentioned in the hadith narrated by Umm ‘Atiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, according to which a woman used to perform circumcisions in Madinah. The Prophet http://63.175.194.25/images/saws.gif (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) told her: "Do not abuse (i.e. do not go to extremes in circumcising); that is better for the woman and more liked by her husband." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Kitab al-Adab;

[muslim_sis]

:S what is more liked by her husband ??

[Al-Irhaab]

that she feels the pleasure, it is very hard to satisfy women who have deep circumcisions and leads to problems for married couples.

[muslim_sis]

ooh rite , i thort it meant it is liked by her husband that she is circumcised... but its not a sunnah tho !?? i mean the prophets wives ...???

[Ebony]

Myth of the Hymen (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21605&highlight=hymen)

Very good thread on the issue of female circumcision.

[Al-Irhaab]

what has that got to do with female circumcision ie the hymen thing...

muslim sis, it is sunnah of hagar (as) not all the muslim women do it, some sunnahs you can choose to do or not to do its not one of those that their was that much emphasis on, i think most muslim women do not have it done but that does not mean that those that do it are wrong.

[peace2u]

ooh rite , i thort it meant it is liked by her husband that she is circumcised... but its not a sunnah tho !?? i mean the prophets wives ...???

or his daughters??? that will be the proof if it was his sunnah or not.


Peace

[WH]

Subhan'allah in light of the evidences from the Sunnah and the junk I heard that contradicts it I'm for this Sunnah all the way- throw that stuff which I just said in this thread in the bin for sure I have learnt something new- how ignorant I was. I accept that it is optional upon the believing women but also accept that it is based on sound Islamic teachings so long as the hadith and history are sound ofcourse.

[Ebony]

what has that got to do with female circumcision ie the hymen thing...

It has a few cross references to circumcision. Try reading it akhi before writing it off :rolleyes:

[peace2u]

if a woman wants it for herself, who am I to deny her even if I think it does more harm than benefit. I feel sorry for the ones who has it forced upon them.


Peace

[muslim_sis]

ebony the cros referance is abt the ''family night invaders'' :p, but this thread speakin abt circumcision :S lol all in one wat eva ... anyway have u looked into the reasons for circumcision of a woman irhabeyah ??

[muslim_sis]

sorry i meant irhaab :embar: ....? hav u ??

[peace2u]

this is what they claim...

In some countries it is viewed as a means of reducing a woman's sexual desire and of safeguarding her fertility.


Peace

[muslim_sis]

this is what they claim...

In some countries it is viewed as a means of reducing a woman's sexual desire and of safeguarding her fertility.


Peace

yeh but thats not 4 a good reason , its not 4 a good cause den !?? coz wat abt wen shes married !!!?

[Al-ghurabah]

its not done in asdian countries or most ara bcountries


mainly african countries. and is it just restricted to muslims.
is there any ahadiths relating to this??

[muslim_sis]

^^^they r above bro^^^ but i fink there r circumstances which it can be done but not 4 no reason ... da bro didnt answer when i asked .and Allah knows best.

[HeiGou]

yeh but thats not 4 a good reason , its not 4 a good cause den !?? coz wat abt wen shes married !!!?

Actually I think it is a misquote - it is to reduce her sexual desire and protect her chastity - not her fertility. Of course it probably also affects her fetility as women who "enjoy" are thought to have a better chance of becoming pregnant. And I doubt it affects here desire at all - given sex starts and ends in the brain - only her ability to do something about it.

[HeiGou]

its not done in asdian countries or most ara bcountries


mainly african countries. and is it just restricted to muslims.
is there any ahadiths relating to this??

I think you will find there is a small amount of female circumcision in all the Islamic world including Indonesia and Malaysia. But this tends to be the lesser form. It, in the sense of full FGM, is much more common in Africa, but that also includes Egypt. It is not restricted to Muslims either unfortunately. Ethiopians, whether Christian, Jewish or Muslim, tend to do it. However the Christians and Jewish communities have been very receptive to government campaigns to persuade them to stop. The Muslims have not. It is found in Kenya especially among non-Christians. The campaign against FGM was one of the things that prompted the Kikuyu to rise against British rule in the Mau Mau rebellion (and Jomo Kenyatta wrote a defence of the practice in his doctoral dissertation that, I think, he did at SOAS in London).

[Al-Irhaab]

yeh but thats not 4 a good reason , its not 4 a good cause den !?? coz wat abt wen shes married !!!?

sister there were some arab women at the time of the prophet (Saw) and they used to ride camels and I wont go into detail as to why but because of their profession their sexual desire would increase therefore they asked the prophet (saw) if they could practice the circumcision, he (saw) advised them to do it and described them as the best of women.

Now anyone who knew anything about female circumcision would know that when done according to the sunnah which is not to cut too deep nor could too little that it does not stop the pleasure of intercourse but actually makes it more pleasurable and at the same time means the husband must do more to satisfy his wife physically (again Im not gonna go into any detail)

The people that spread this rubbish about it being mutilation are westerners trying to find a reason to go into muslim lands and cause trouble and get people away form Islam. Granted there are cases of abuse but they are not in the majority. Ask somali sisters in which this is common whether they have a problem doing it to their daughters or sisters. Why a woman would want to ruin her daughters life is something worth thinking about, showing that the womans life is not ruined.

Again people need to learn what sunnah means there are many different types. The prophet (saw) used to walk briskly it is from his sunnah, but if you walk slowly it does not mean you are sinful. Some sunnahs again like I said before were emphasised more then others and some were passing advice. Female circumcision was known as the sunnah of Hajar (as) the wife of ibraheem (as). So before people start to curse it (as I once used to) they need to stop believing the lies in the news articles like the one posted here and go and find the truth themselves.

[Al-Irhaab]

Myth of the Hymen (http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21605&highlight=hymen)

Very good thread on the issue of female circumcision.

sorry could not fine anything at all on female circumcision only some quotes about female genital mutliation, which every sane muslim agrees is haram.

Anyone who equate fgm to female circumcison is a liar full stop.

[HeiGou]

The people that spread this rubbish about it being mutilation are westerners trying to find a reason to go into muslim lands and cause trouble and get people away form Islam. Granted there are cases of abuse but they are not in the majority. Ask somali sisters in which this is common whether they have a problem doing it to their daughters or sisters. Why a woman would want to ruin her daughters life is something worth thinking about, showing that the womans life is not ruined.

I think the basic problem is that the women do it in order not to ruin their daughters' lives. To the best of my knowledge Somalis do, as a general rule, practice FGM not just circumcision, as do most (north-)East Africans. But the expectations of their society is that a "good" girl must have it done or she will not be able to marry. So mothers do it to their daughters. If they didn't their lives would be ruined. There are plenty of accounts by Somalis who have come to the West - and sure they tend not to be the sort of Somalis people here would take seriously - and they have written about their experiences of FGM.

The irony is, according to you but probably not them, if they listened to those Westerners and stopped FGM they would be better Muslims.

[Al-Irhaab]

I think the basic problem is that the women do it in order not to ruin their daughters' lives. To the best of my knowledge Somalis do, as a general rule, practice FGM not just circumcision, as do most (north-)East Africans. But the expectations of their society is that a "good" girl must have it done or she will not be able to marry. So mothers do it to their daughters. If they didn't their lives would be ruined. There are plenty of accounts by Somalis who have come to the West - and sure they tend not to be the sort of Somalis people here would take seriously - and they have written about their experiences of FGM.

The irony is, according to you but probably not them, if they listened to those Westerners and stopped FGM they would be better Muslims.


are you muslim? if your not then your a liar and if you are then your a liar.

tou you knowledge they practice fgm? what knowledge do you have the knowledge you read of western articles whilst you slander somali muslims who wish to follow a sunnah.

Your a liar nothing less and believe me this is me being polite... what I want to say to you id get banned for.

[muslim_sis]

sister there were some arab women at the time of the prophet (Saw) and they used to ride camels and I wont go into detail as to why but because of their profession their sexual desire would increase therefore they asked the prophet (saw) if they could practice the circumcision, he (saw) advised them to do it and described them as the best of women.

Now anyone who knew anything about female circumcision would know that when done according to the sunnah which is not to cut too deep nor could too little that it does not stop the pleasure of intercourse but actually makes it more pleasurable and at the same time means the husband must do more to satisfy his wife physically (again Im not gonna go into any detail)

The people that spread this rubbish about it being mutilation are westerners trying to find a reason to go into muslim lands and cause trouble and get people away form Islam. Granted there are cases of abuse but they are not in the majority. Ask somali sisters in which this is common whether they have a problem doing it to their daughters or sisters. Why a woman would want to ruin her daughters life is something worth thinking about, showing that the womans life is not ruined.

Again people need to learn what sunnah means there are many different types. The prophet (saw) used to walk briskly it is from his sunnah, but if you walk slowly it does not mean you are sinful. Some sunnahs again like I said before were emphasised more then others and some were passing advice. Female circumcision was known as the sunnah of Hajar (as) the wife of ibraheem (as). So before people start to curse it (as I once used to) they need to stop believing the lies in the news articles like the one posted here and go and find the truth themselves.

yes thats what i was looking for , i heard that b4 - subhanallah , so if u quote the hadeeth without its context (wat is above ^^) den it sounds incomplete like any woman can have it 4 any reason , but jazakallah for posting it :up:

[muslim_sis]

oh and by the way , i did not say it ruins their lives , i said , that why go through that for no reason !! tht was my point

...and i doubt that now a days thats a womans profession !

[HeiGou]

are you muslim? if your not then your a liar and if you are then your a liar.

tou you knowledge they practice fgm? what knowledge do you have the knowledge you read of western articles whilst you slander somali muslims who wish to follow a sunnah.

Your a liar nothing less and believe me this is me being polite... what I want to say to you id get banned for.

So you are saying that the vast body of information on FGM is Somalia is fake?

Including this?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11251507&dopt=Abstract

Can you explain to me who is behind this vast conspiracy to defame Somalis?

And it obviously involves the United Nations,

http://www.who.int/topics/female_genital_mutilation/en/

http://www.un.org/geninfo/faq/factsheets/FS3.HTM

http://www.unicef.org.uk/unicefuk/policies/policy_detail.asp?policy=12

And the Wikipedia community,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_circumcision

And of course Somalis in the West

The Story of Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie was born in Somalia and was infibulated at the age of five. Even today, more than 20 years later, discussing the pain and horror of the procedure still makes her choke with emotion. "I am very angry," she says. "It took me a long time to deal with [FGM]. It's not an easy thing. God gave me the strength to survive, but I will not forget until I die."

Dirie's parents arranged for her to undergo FGM, continuing a tradition in which her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had taken part. "I didn't know anyone who hadn't had it done," she says, adding that there would have been only "shame" for women who didn't have the procedure. "When I was young, I couldn't wait," she says. "Afterward, you are automatically treated like a woman. I didn't want to be a little girl anymore. I wanted to be a big girl. I kept telling my parents, I want to be next."

Dirie survived the procedure; her younger sister did not. Two cousins also died of complications from FGM. Dirie says their deaths were not unusual. "These women [circumcisers] go door to door, with a filthy razor. They have no training; they don't know what they are doing." As a consequence, infection, hemorrhaging and death were common.

Dirie left Africa when she was 14, making her way to London and the United States where she became a successful model. But she continued to struggle with what had happened to her as a child in Somalia. "One day I decided enough was enough." says Dirie. "I didn't want another woman to ever go through this." Her conviction prompted her speak to publicly about her experience for the first time. Dirie says her story shocked everyone she knew.

"People looked at me and couldn't believe it," she says. They kept saying, "All this time and we didn't know." She received thousands of letters of support after her story was published. But she was also criticized by Muslim women who were outraged that she would talk publicly about their tradition. "They looked down on me, and said, How dare you. This is your culture, your tradition."

But Dirie says this is what gives her license to talk about what is happening to her countrywomen. "This is my experience, my country that I'm talking about," she says. "It has to stop."

I am perfectly happy for Somalis to follow the Sunna. I do not believe that FGM is Sunna. I would rather they did not practice FGM and restricted themselves to circumcision although to be honest I do not believe it improves anyone's sex life and would prefer they did not do that either. But do FGM they do.

Even if I was a liar and the son of a liar and the grandson of a liar, they would still do it. If they would stop they would, in my opinion, be better people and beter Muslims.

[Al-Irhaab]

your a liar and so are your sources happy and the somalis that you quoted again like I said individual cases exist but as a majority it is not true at all.

strange how you quoted a kafir to tell us what happens in a majority muslim country strange how your somali in the west is a kafir aswell and a model

[muslim_sis]

sorry whats FGM :embar: ?

irhab , ebony's post wasnt referin to the topic of the thread bbut was referin to sumin else mentioned in the thread... the sewing business!!

[Al-Irhaab]

fgm is called female genital mutilation.

you see what the kuffar do is in order to attack anything the muslims do is they come up with lies about it, so they change arranged marriages to forced marriages and convince everyone that anyone who has an arranged marriage is forced into it, they change female circumcision to female genital mutliation and start saying anyone who does it is killing the womans desire totally and it is barbaric and inhumane, this gives them an excuse to go to these areas and re-educate the people about how good it is to have sex in marriage and outside of marriage and mostly outside marriage and adultery is ok and so is pornography and homosexuality etc etc etc. And you have muslims who fall into their trap and start believing everything the kuffar say about their brothers and sisters without no verification at all.

[jimm]

fgm is called female genital mutilation.

you see what the kuffar do is in order to attack anything the muslims do is they come up with lies about it, so they change arranged marriages to forced marriages and convince everyone that anyone who has an arranged marriage is forced into it, they change female circumcision to female genital mutliation and start saying anyone who does it is killing the womans desire totally and it is barbaric and inhumane, this gives them an excuse to go to these areas and re-educate the people about how good it is to have sex in marriage and outside of marriage and mostly outside marriage and adultery is ok and so is pornography and homosexuality etc etc etc. And you have muslims who fall into their trap and start believing everything the kuffar say about their brothers and sisters without no verification at all.

right, its all a big conspiracy. It has never happened, its just a misquote which allows the big bad westerners to come in and change things.

[carol_au]

From my reading, it appears that it's a disputed hadith that speaks of allowing but not encouraging female circumcision and even then only under specific circumstances and definitely not to the extent we see it done today.

It also appears that this tradition has evolved from pre-islamic practices that was adopted into the religion in certain areas.



http://www.minaret.org/fgm.htm

[Hekmaa]

If this thread is not closed I am going to be forced to post, and it will be a very long post.

I think there is enough rubbish in here that this thread should be put away.

People should know what to discuss and what not to discuss, and when you do decided to discuss such issues then do it impartialy.

[HeiGou]

sorry whats FGM :embar: ?

irhab , ebony's post wasnt referin to the topic of the thread bbut was referin to sumin else mentioned in the thread... the sewing business!!

Look almost any description of this will end up with the post being removed and/or a ban - so I will try to be careful. Female circumcision is roughly analogous to male circumcision - except they don't always cut the female equivalent of the foreskin, but the equivalent of what it protects. If you follow me. FGM, what we kafirs call Female Genital Mutilation, is far far more radical. Essentially it is the removal of everything external that a knife can reach. What is left is sewn up into a very small hole to pass urine and anything else that needs to be passed. Hence the thread mentioned sewing. Of course this makes sex all but impossible without further damage to the organ concerned. If you do a google search and you are not careful you will find pictures of it on the internet. I strongly advise you do not look.

Female circumcision might be Sunna, FGM is not although those Muslims who do it - and that includes a large percentage of Egyptians - claim it is.