Landmrk Moment

I would like to congratulate the women and government of Egypt on their landmark stance against female genital mutilation. For those out of the loop, female genital mutilation has been a hot button political issue in international politics in the last few decades and has finally made headway in many countries, especially Egypt. Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision by supporters, is the cutting out of the clitoris. Usually performed on girls aging from 7 to 13 years old, it is performed by a doctor, barber, or anyone else in the town who is willing to do it. Needless to say, this can result in scarring, nerve damage, and death (yes, many girls have died from it). The primary reasons for genital cutting are to ensure chastity and honor, and many believe that it will also prevent a woman from being unfaithful to her husband. These views and the tradition of the ritual are believed and enforced by the men of the community, and in traditionally patriarchal societies this belief and custom is hard to change.


After the deaths of two girls during the procedure over summer, a nationwide campaign to enforce the ban has become the largest and most significant social movement in this generation of Egyptian history. The movement has unified top governmental officials, official religious leaders, and activists. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has published information explaining that the practice is not called for in Islam, and Egypt's grand mufti Ali Gomaa has declared the practice haram, prohibited by Islam. There was an existing ban established in 1996 but it left a loophole for allowing the procedure for 'medical emergencies' so wide that the ban made no difference at all. Now, with an estimated 96% of married, divorced and widowed women having undergone the procedure the government is pushing for a comprehensive ban.

While the practice is common and increasingly controversial in sub-saharan Africa, it is making headway in Egypt after decades failed attempts. Even in Saudi Arabia where women cannot drive, vote, or hold most jobs, the practice is view as barbaric. The movement has made such progress because it is now no longer considered socially unacceptable to discuss the topic in public. This is partly due to the prevalence of human sexuality on radio, in television, and in the movies. Also, there is much more news and media coverage of botched operations and more public demonstrations highlighting deaths. Hopefully this will influence policy in other countries currently allowing FGM and eradicate the practice worldwide.