Egypt Outlaws all Female Circumcision

by Rabbit 30 Replies latest social current

• 

  Rabbit

  There is, however, a more authentic Hadeeth in which Prophet Muhammad (P) is reported to have passed by a woman performing circumcision on a young girl. He instructed the woman by saying:
  

  "Cut off only the foreskin (outer fold of skin over the clitoris; the prepuce) but do not cut off deeply (i.e. the clitoris itself), for this is brighter for the face (of the girl) and more favorable with the husband." [8]

  While the Prophet (P) did not explicitly ban this practice, his words project a great deal of sensitivity to the instinctive needs of females and their matrimonal happiness and legitimate enjoyment.

  *sigh*"...a great deal of sensitivity..." ????????

  I picture the prophet (son of god) walking along...and sees a woman, obviously in public, with her naked young daughter, possibly tied down...scared, screaming in agony and fear of her mother, ...who is slicing off sensitive pieces of her bleeding flesh.

  Mohammad comes by with his posse of men (like Jesus) and says, "Cut off only the foreskin (outer fold of skin over the clitoris; the prepuce) but do not cut off deeply (i.e. the clitoris itself), for this is brighter for the face (of the girl) and more favorable with the husband."

  Yeah...f~~king sensitive guy ! The only sensitive one was the poor, scared, bleeding, confused little girl !

  And apparently, both of these men who claimed to be the 'sons of god', agreed in practice, that God screwed up while creating men and women -- He gave them too many body parts ! Jewish boys were under OT Law to have their unneeded body part chopped off. If we're looking for the origins of circumcision...I think 'God's Word' in the Bible is a good place to start.

  I am glad to see that female circumcision did not start with Islam, but, the important thing is 'who' accepts it -- and 'who' doesn't try to stop it. As Ex-JW's know all to well...the 'rank & file' members in high control religions...do what they are told. Even if the Quran just 'allows' it -- for most members that means "you better do it". Remember how it was when the Watchtower makes "suggestions" on some subject ? Any "suggestion" was and is viewed as..."God's desire".

  Some things never change...

  Rabbit
• 

  Rabbit

  There's still just NO reason...that I can see to be amputating body parts for non-medical issues. In the following that Merry posted, the author is still acting as an apologist for Mohammad. (i.e. if the son of god said it, it must be a 'good thing'.

  TYPES OF CIRCUMCISION

  a) Removal of the hood (or prepuce) of the clitoris. This procedure is, to some degree, analgous to male circumcision since in both cases, no part of the sexual organ is cut off. In both cases also, it is only the foreskin, or outer fold of the skin, which is cut off. Properly done, it is not likely to cause any "matrimonial" problem. While some may call it "sunnah circumcision," this is their own appellation and not that of the Prophet (P) who used the term Sunnah only in the context of male circumcision.
  

  b) Removal of the entire clitoris (clitorectomy) along with part of the labia minora, which is satured together leaving an opening. This is a form of mutilation.

  c) Removal of the entire clitoris, labia minora and medial part of the labia majora, whith both sides of the female organ stitched together leaving a small opeing. This procedure requires tying together the child's legs of nearly three weeks. [9] It is called the Pharaonic procedure but may as well be called "mutilation".

  It is obvious that the second and third procedures were never mandated, encouraged or even consented to by the Prophet (P). They even violate a known rule in Shari'ah prohibiting the cutting off [Removal] of any part of the human body except for unavoidable reasons (e.g. medical treatment, trimming nails or hair, or for an explicitly specified reason such as male circumcision). Such necessity or need does not exist in female circumcision. Nothing justifies genital mutilation. In fact, no mutilation is allowed by Islam even in the battlefield. Not only are these two procedures unjustifiable, they are brutal, inhumane and in violation of Islam.

  Removal = cutting off = Removal !

  Sorry, but (A) IMHO..."is a form of mutilation," too. But, when religious authority puts their Seal of Approval on this, it becomes God's/Allah's/Jehovah's Law.

  Pitiful.

  Rabbit
• 

  stealyourface

  While Egypt's secular government has outlawed the practice, as have many other nations, where there is an Islamic community, there will be FGM. Until the ayatollahs, mullahs and imams of all schools of Islam declare a fatwa against it, it will be practiced underground.

  Shari'ah (Islamic law) divides actions into five categories; mandatory, commendable, permissible, detestable and strictly forbidden. Female circumcision falls within the category of the permissible.

  I can understand why some want to believe that FGM is not an Islamic practice, but facts bear out that while not heavily practiced in the Arabian Peninsula, it is still part of the Islamic experience for millions of Muslim women, perpetrated by women with the tacit approval of men. http://www.taoofdefiance.com/2007/06/08/female-genital-mutilation-an-islamic-practice/

  Here is an article from the Daily Observer in Gambia, in which the president of the Supreme Islamic Council calls FGM 'just an ordinary thing' and is permissible, not a sin. He asserts that '"It is just today that the practice is harmful."'
  http://www.observer.gm/enews/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=390&Itemid=33

  Here is an article about FGM in Egypt, where it is an ordinary thing. http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1467

  Here is an article about FGM in Iraq where it is an ordinary thing. FGM practiced among the Kurdish Shafii school of Islam:
  http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/2005/08/007620print.html

  Here is an article about FGM in the KSA, only widespread in the southern part of the country, and not illegal, but than again, it is not culturally acceptable for Saudis to speak of such things to journalists. http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9§ion=0&article=60703&d=20&m=3&y=2005&pix=community.jpg&category=Features
• 

  quietlyleaving

  Interesting article here

  http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/csv/csv-article.cfm?id=88

  Female circumcision is a rite of passage among the Maasai that marks change from childhood to adulthood. Though some groups such as the Christian Church, educators, and some non-governmental organizations have made an effort to abolish this practice, the Maasai, according to my mother, are stubborn. She says, “Female circumcision is our culture. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? Abandoning our culture would annoy our ancestors. It would bring a curse to the entire community.”
• 

  nvrgnbk

  Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? Abandoning our culture would annoy our ancestors. It would bring a curse to the entire community.”

  It is precisely this type of ignorance that is the enemy of all human progress and enlightenment.

  Tribal, religious, or cultural, these practices only bring harm.
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  ozziepost

  There is much being done to change African views: http://www.fistulafoundation.org/index.html
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  diamondblue1974

  I applaud the Egyptian government for outlawing female genital cutting however I have a concern; the practice is deeply held within their culture and some would still carry out this practice regardless as to the illegalities. More education is still required for them in my view.

  I did a significant study into the practice some years ago from a feminist and legal perspective - apparently the practice is largely encouraged by men because they see womens sexual enjoyment as a threat and an indication that women would be unfaithful to their husbands if they were allowed this enjoyment. Sickening.

  Ive seen the photo's and it took some months before those images faded from my retina's!

  Gary
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  Mary

  Well thank god someone in the Egyptian government had the brains to see what a sick, barbaric practice this is, and decided to do something about it. Unbelievable that anyone is still practicing this crap in the 21st century or that the UN or the WHO hasn't done something to try and stop this.
• 

  Rabbit

  The following excerpt is from the 1st link in stealyourface's post:

  [..] current practice shows no signs of a decline in popularity, with more than 90 per cent of mothers questioned supporting the practice continuing.

  And one in five mothers even suggested social sanctions should be imposed on girls who were uncircumcised.

  The above dove-tails perfectly with what the religious arguments above - it is not an obligation, but an “honourable practice”. But far disturbing still are stories about the hundreds, if not thousands of Christian women from Indonesia’s Molucca Islands who were forcibly converted to Islam and in the process forcibly circumcised:

  Christian woman recalls horror of forced conversion to Islam

  Posted on May 1, 2001 | by Brittany Jarvis

  AMBON, Indonesia (BP)–”My scar healed quite fast, but the sad, humiliated feeling stayed. I feel like I’m no longer complete, both as a person and a woman.”

  That is the testimony of Christina Sagat, a 32-year-old Christian from Kasiui, Indonesia, who was forcibly circumcised by her Muslim neighbors. Unfortunately, as traumatic as her story sounds, hundreds of women have endured similar oppression.

  “My niece, Cecilia, who at that time was eight months pregnant, was also circumcised,” Sagat said. “My mother, who was in her 70s, was also circumcised. Teenagers, and even infants, were circumcised. I don’t understand these people.”

  [..]

  More details on whats been happening on Ambon Island and other Molucca Islands, where thousands of people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands displaced here. Hundreds of Christian families have been given the choice - convert or die. The women and children are then separated from the men and “converted”. Men and children are circumcised using the same dirty razor blade and then told to go and wash in the sea to disinfect the heavily bleeding wounds...

  *sigh* I hate religion...
• 

  Rabbit

  ~Merry, maybe you can clear up a few things for me:

  Out of curiosity, what sect of Islam do you belong to ? What do you think about Sharia Law ? What do you think about Muslims being able to impose Sharia Law on their members in other countries, like the US or England ? Is it something only fundamentalist Muslims adhere to ?

  You seem a little quiet about your own beliefs about female circumcision, so, what do you believe ? Do you think Muhammad was wrong...not to condemn this practice ? Would you consider circumcision for yourself...if it was "required" by your faith ?

  I don't mean to be too personal and I'm not trying to fight, since you are Muslim, I think you would be able to clear up any misconceptions. It just seems to me (who has a lot to learn) women already have hard enough times as it is in other male-dominated religions...Islam takes women rights's backwards, IMHO.

  Thank you, Rabbit