It seems that some promising developments may have taken place in the fight to eradicate the horrific practise of female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision. FGM is widely practised in many African countries where Islam is followed. The practise results in extreme health risks that are frequently life threatening. This can be especially problematic during childbirth, depending on the severity of the circumcision method that was used.
"Beyond the obvious initial pains of the operations, FGC has long-term physiological, sexual, and psychological effects. The unsanitary environment under which FGC takes place results in infections of the genital and surrounding areas and often results in the transmission of the HIV virus which can cause AIDS. Some of the other health consequences of FGC include primary fatalities as a result of shock, hemorrhage or septicemia.
Long-term complications include sexual frigidity, genital malformation, delayed menarche, chronic pelvic complications, recurrent urinary retention and infection, and an entire range of obstetric complications whereas the fetus is exposed to a range of infectious diseases as well as facing the risk of having his or her head crushed in the damaged birth canal. In such cases the infibulated mother must undergo another operation whereby she is "opened" further to insure the safe birthing of her child."
Sapa reports the welcome news that a group of prominent muslim clerics in Somalia have issued a fatwa against female genital mutilation. They have condemned the custom as being against the Islamic religion, and say that it should be a punishable offence. One of the clerics was quoted as saying that every girl "suffering this fate" should be able to take their parents on in an Islamic court and ask for compensation. Unfortunately at this stage, it appears that this last statement was more hypothetical than anything else. Also, there is no such thing as rule of law in Somalia where powerful clan allegiances hold sway, and differences between religious leaders are rife. So, in reality the fatwa will be difficult if not impossible to enforce. Even so, this is an unusual move, and although my optimism is probably completely baseless, the fact that this has happened at all, is to be highly commended.
Commendable. Even though the call for fatwa against FGM is mere rhetoric. Because, the fatwa is not for such purposes.
I was engaged in the special task force against FGM for the prevention of VVF in Nigeria and I produced multilingual booklets on the eradication of FGM and VVF sponsored by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)of Seattle, USA. The booklets and video are available from the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
I met a young Nigerian graduate who happens to be the highest paid fashion model in Nigeria who still hates the fact that she was circumcised and says the FGM is responsible for her frigidity. But, her parents have no apologies or regrets, because the fact that she is still a virgin at 25 confirms the success of the primary reason for FGM in most tribes in Eastern Nigeria, to contain the libido of the girls and nubile maidens. So, that they won't be promiscuous.
Posted by: Orikinla Osinachi | October 30, 2005 at 08:42 PM