A Torturous, Culturally Condoned Practice
Late last year, I raised in Parliament the issue of female genital mutilation. International and domestic agencies have roundly denounced this practice, with one advocacy group describing this practice as akin to torture. Reports had come to my attention that had indicated that in New South Wales at least 40 women are treated at Sydney’s Auburn Hospital alone every year as victims of this practice. Legislation is in place in this State prohibiting the carrying out of this practice however, no prosecutions have been initiated against any of those involved. In bringing this issue to the fore, I questioned whether the Government would consider legislation specifically compelling doctors, nurses and others in positions of responsibility that discover cases of female genital mutilation to report these cases to police. To date, I have not received a response from the Government.
This year, the death of an eleven year old schoolgirl at a private clinic in Egypt in June prompted the government to outlaw the custom of female genital mutilation. In fact, Egypt’s state-appointed Grand Mufti, the government’s official arbiter of Islamic law, decreed that female genital cutting was forbidden by Islam, in his strongest statement yet against the practice. As I mentioned last fortnight, Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution requires Sharia Law to be the vehicle through which all Egyptian legislation is construed. It is hoped that the Mufti’s public declaration denouncing this practice will be heeded.
It is said that the practice is so widespread in Egypt that around 95 percent of the country’s women are estimated to have undergone the procedure. The practice has devastating effects on the female genital function and to put it lightly, only some of the side effects include haemorrhage, shock and sexual dysfunction. Of course, this procedure can and has resulted in death.
It is apparent that many women in Egypt and in other countries where this practice is culturally condoned are convinced that it is necessary – not only for themselves, but also for other women and for the ‘public good.’ Empirical information supports the view that the practice is supported by women, even though clear evidence indicates that this practice is of grave harm to women.
Some women believe that this ‘procedure’ is needed to protect the chastity of women and thus, to uphold a certain standard of morality in Egypt. For example, Asma Said, a 16-year-old secondary school student pronounced to Reuters that, “if a girl is not purified, she will just go hook up with men. This protects women’s honour. Otherwise it will become just like America here and girls will go with guys.”
Others observe that the practice is necessary because it is culturally required. For others, there is a harsh degree of peer pressure to submit to this practice. In a class full of young women interviewed by Reuters, only one girl spoke against the practice – she was shouted down by her classmates until she conceded that genital cutting was a necessity. “No one can get married without it,” said the girl. Another classmate, 15-year-old Nesma Radi, chimed in: “Egypt lives in peace and security because there is circumcision.”
While the official decree from the Grand Mufti is a step in the right direction, it is also apparent that a revolutionary shift in the grassroots mindset is necessary. Even after the government imposed its full ban on the practice, the procedures continue to happen. Whatever reasons are given – by women or even by men for the continuation of female genital mutilation – it is clear that in Egypt, there is a strong uphill battle confronting advocates of change.
REV. THE HON. DR. GORDON MOYES, A.C., M.L.C.
