The issue of genital mutilation or female circumcision has again sparked debates with the death of a 12-year-old Egyptian girl who was being operated for circumcision by a doctor. The girl called Badour Shaker died where she was being operated upon illegally. Her mother had paid $9 to the physician for the operation. Female circumcision is a practice mainly prevalent in Muslims and Christians in areas like Nile Valley, parts of Saharan Africa, Yemen and Oman. Where no religion supports the practice, parents think that they are helping their daughters in maintaining their virginity and chastity. The procedure usually involves the removal of clitoris and other parts of female genitalia. They are not aware of the fact that such a practice can cause death of the child due to excessive bleeding, complications during child birth or serious urinary infections.
Reportedly the mother of the child was also bribed by the doctor to settle outside the court, however, she refused. As per the forensic report the death of the child was caused due to an overdose of anesthesia. But the doctor has denied the allegations. The case of the girl also reminded the CNN television documentary which demonstrated a barber conducting circumcision on a ten year old girl in a slum. The documentary was made in 1995. Such a situation followed the 1950s decision of the government banning all hospitals and doctors of carrying the procedure. This was the most foolish step of the then government as instead of reducing the practice, people started taking their girls to midwives, barbers and other amateurs. After the CNN documentary made its impact the ban was reversed and permitted only the medical staff and doctors to perform the practice.
A survey done by UNICEF in 2003 established that 97% of the married women in Egypt have been through circumcision. A recent study conducted by Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population found out that in girls aged between 10 to 18 years, 50.3% have been circumcised. The health Ministry has issued a decree now which states that the practice is “prohibited for any doctors, nurses, or any other person to carry out any cut of, flattening or modification of any natural part of the female reproductive system, either in government hospitals, nongovernmental hospitals or any other places.’ Countries religious authorities have too emphasized on the fact that Islam is against female circumcision.
Nawal el-Saadawi, 76, a known feminist activist from Egypt, has published a biography describing her own experience with circumcision. A line from her book says,
‘Badour, did you have to die for some light to shine in the dark minds? Did you have to pay with your dear life a price ... for doctors and clerics to learn that the right religion doesn’t cut children’s organs.’
We do need to realize that this is not a way to reserve a woman’s chastity and such practices are condemned by God too. Activist should take up the cause and educate people especially in the villages about how they risk the lives of their girls by following such a irreligious and unforgivable practice.
Source: Yahoo
