07/03/2007
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Egypt bans every form of woman circumcision, but much remains to be done
“Every woman circumcision will be considered a serious law violation and will
be severely punished”. Hatem-al-Gabali's words, Egyptian Health Minister, who
spoke last June 28th. Few words that could mean a lot for thousands of young Egyptian women. Although
words are not enough.
Yet another victim. As a matter of fact genital mutilation has been forbidden for a long time in
Egypt, but on the other hand a widespread habit still exists that in too many
cases is tolerated by authorities; recent studies report that about 90% of Egyptian
women have been subjected to genital mutilation. Clitoris mutilation is banned
in Egypt since 1996, but a norm allowed women circumcision in 'particular cases',
a waiver leaving a lot of room for individual interpretations. But few days ago
Budour Ahmed Shaker, a 12 years young girl living in a village in the Southern
Egypt Minya province, lost her life because of this practice. The girl's mother
and the doctor have been arrested, although the supporters of this practice (that
in Egypt dates back to the time of Pharaohs) claim that the cause for the death
has been a mistake in the anaesthesia administration and not the circumcision
itself. But the doubts on the death cause did not stop the surge of indignation
that shook the country, leading also the first lady Susanne Mubarak, always reluctant
to appear in public, to take open position against the habit. The ban has been
strongly reasserted removing the degree of freedom and ratifying the instant estrangement
of medical and paramedical personnel publicly or privately practising this type
of operation.
Not a religious matter. This is a habit that has nothing to do with Islam and other religions, as opposed
to what is claimed by some people.
Yet another victim. As a matter of fact genital mutilation has been forbidden for a long time in
Egypt, but on the other hand a widespread habit still exists that in too many
cases is tolerated by authorities; recent studies report that about 90% of Egyptian
women have been subjected to genital mutilation. Clitoris mutilation is banned
in Egypt since 1996, but a norm allowed women circumcision in 'particular cases',
a waiver leaving a lot of room for individual interpretations. But few days ago
Budour Ahmed Shaker, a 12 years young girl living in a village in the Southern
Egypt Minya province, lost her life because of this practice. The girl's mother
and the doctor have been arrested, although the supporters of this practice (that
in Egypt dates back to the time of Pharaohs) claim that the cause for the death
has been a mistake in the anaesthesia administration and not the circumcision
itself. But the doubts on the death cause did not stop the surge of indignation
that shook the country, leading also the first lady Susanne Mubarak, always reluctant
to appear in public, to take open position against the habit. The ban has been
strongly reasserted removing the degree of freedom and ratifying the instant estrangement
of medical and paramedical personnel publicly or privately practising this type
of operation.
Not a religious matter. This is a habit that has nothing to do with Islam and other religions, as opposed
to what is claimed by some people.
And it is just for restating this this concept that the Cairo Gran Mufti' and
the Coptic patriarch, a widespread Christian faith in Egypt, wished to participate
together on this matter, restating the complete extraneousness of woman circumcision
from Bible and Koran traditions.
An ancient tradition. An habit which is not only an Egyptian one, but it is also widespread in 28
African countries (among which Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal and Guinea) and some Asiatic
states. According to United Nations there are at least 120 million young girls
subjected to some kind of genital mutilation all over the world. During the last
years there have been important actions in order to completely ban this practice,
but much still remains to be done. Also because notwithstanding the good will
of local administrations it is necessary to overcome the thousand-year old cultural
heritage linking woman circumcision to social acceptance into community.
The two religious men addressed to all their followers, because both Christian
and Muslim women are subjected to circumcision, and asked to put an end to this
ancient ritual of the transition from childhood to adult age that, as already
said, dates back to Pharaohs' times.
A habit that is still practised especially in rural Egypt, in the absurd belief
that it is useful to maintain chastity in young women.
An ancient tradition. An habit which is not only an Egyptian one, but it is also widespread in 28
African countries (among which Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal and Guinea) and some Asiatic
states. According to United Nations there are at least 120 million young girls
subjected to some kind of genital mutilation all over the world. During the last
years there have been important actions in order to completely ban this practice,
but much still remains to be done. Also because notwithstanding the good will
of local administrations it is necessary to overcome the thousand-year old cultural
heritage linking woman circumcision to social acceptance into community.
To this respect is particularly relevant the dramatic story of Pamela Kathambi,
a Kenyan girl that died one year ago by circumcising herself because her mother
refused to subject her daughter to this violent practice. But the girl, as the
mother told the journalists, felt excluded from her friends because she did not
withstand the ritual and was therefore marginalised. Apart from government decrees
there is much work to be done on the cultural side before this habit will come
to an end, but from Cairo a strong signal of hope has come.
Christian Elia
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