Maya El Azhary

900139136

Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt, Sudan and India

Research Question: In what ways is FGM related to culture and religion? And to
what extent does it violate women’s right; focusing on Egypt, Sudan and India?

Word count: 3175

Dr. Mohamed Fahmy

SEMR 4038

The American University in Cairo

 Abstract

This research paper examines Female Genital Mutilation from a very different, yet
important perspective. In fact, while it portrays an uncommon standpoint, this paper
will assess the origin routes of the practice of FGM and its religious and cultural
views. As FGM is wide spreading, up till today, around Africa and Asia, the main
focus on the effects of FGM in Egypt, Sudan and India will be analyzed in relation
with each country’s women’s position.

2
 I. Introduction
Every society has its own traditions, culture and habits that are usually

influenced either by historical or religious factors. Today, many countries succumb to

that regardless of the fact that they might be crossing some lines. In fact, they obey

the rules whether they come from a pious authority or a political one without

considering what’s rationally accepted and what’s not. Today, if we look around us

we would find that everything has gender in it. Gender is embedded in our everyday

lives and we submit to it unconsciously, but the gender systems have a variety of

different features, not all of which are the same across different societies.

Ever since it has widespread all over Africa and Asia, Female Genital

Mutilation, has long been a debatable topic of whether it is a cultural tradition or a

religious one. Nonetheless, regardless of its route, it is internationally recognized as a

violation of human’s rights1. According to the latest update in February of 2016 by the

World Health Organization: Today, there are 30 countries around the world that

practice FGM and we count more than 200 million women that have been victims of

the FGM2; which also makes it a topic that falls under the umbrella of gender powers

and inequality.

This paper sheds light on the origin of the practice of FGM in general, whilst

understanding women’s position and the FGM effect in Egypt and Sudan; along with

a brief analysis of the situation in India.

1
Sexual and Reproductive Health." World Health Organization. N.p., n.d. Web.

2
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern. UNICEF, New York, 2016.

3
II. Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation “comprises all procedures that involve partial or total

removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs

for non-medical reasons.3”

On a global level, there are at least 200 million girls located in 30 countries

around the world that have undergone FGM.4 More than half of this number only lives

in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia; whereas 44 million of them are under the age of

155.

FGM is practiced the most with a rate of 96% of the women are circumcised 6. In

1998, data show that Egypt has around 29 million circumcised women and about 18

million in Sudan and Somalia combined7 and the number is sustaining its increase.

Actually, in Yemen, there are 85% of girls that undergo FGM within their first week

of birth8. However, it affects only 1% of the girls in Cameroon and Uganda9.

Female circumcision is a dehumanizing surreal issue that should be tackled in a

very sensitive and serious way. FGM is not only unhealthy on the biological level, but

on the psychological one as well; women who undergo it suffer serious emotional

problems. Usually people who perform it are the midwives or the closest barber10.

3
"Female Genital Mutilation." World Health Organization. N.p., Feb. 2016
4
UNICEF FMGC Report 2016

5
Ibid.

6
Montasser, Khaled. Circumcision and Violence against Women. Ed. Sanaa El Bissi. N.p.: Dar El Ein, 2003.
Print. Page 51

7
Montasser, Khaled. Circumcision and Violence against Women. Ed. Sanaa El Bissi. N.p.: Dar El Ein, 2003.
Print. Page 51
8
UNICEF FMGC Report 2016

9
UNICEF FMGC Report 2016

10
Montasser, Khaled. Circumcision and Violence against Women. Ed. Sanaa El Bissi. N.p.: Dar El Ein, 2003.
Print. Page 51

4
 a. Types of FGM

The World Healthy Organization had classified FGM under three categories or types.

First, is the known to be Type I and referred to as Clitoridectomy, which is the partial

or total amputation of the small sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals called

Clitoris. Also, removing the prepuce, which is the fold of skin surrounding the area.

Clitoridectomy is associtated with Islam with the misconception that is it part Sunna.

The second category, type II and referred to as Excision, that also includes

partial or total amputation of the clitoris along with the Labia Minora11 either with the

excision of Labia Majora12; the Labia are the “lips” the surround the vaginal genital

of the female.

The third category, Type III and referred to as Infibulation, “this is the

narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is

formed by cutting and repositioning the Labia Minora, or Labia Majora, sometimes

through stitching, with or without removal of the Clitoris”

b. Consequences of FGM on women

It is indeed that FGM has neither health benefits nor advantages. Women,

who undergo FGM, are faces with a traumatic aftermath such as, unhappy sexual

11
Definition: inner fold of the Vulva. – Female Genital Mutilation." World Health Organization. N.p., Feb. 2016

12
Definition: outer folds of skin of the Vulva. – Female Genital Mutilation." World Health Organization. N.p.,
Feb. 2016

5
life in marriage, sever bleeding, death or even become infertile 13. Also, results in

genital malformation, urinary infection, and chronic pelvic diseases. 14 Not to

mention the amount of psychological damage the women live with for the rest of

their live where they question themselves with the “ What if’s” they had not been

circumcised? Will their sex life improve? What are they missing out on? Such

questions surely shatter their psychology.

c. Religion and FGM

In what concerns the Islamic religion, Aly Gomaa’, the Grand Mufti of Egypt,

previously claimed that FGM harms women in a psychological and physical way

whereas he called upon this practice to be stopped in the name of the values of Islam

that prohibits all Muslims to act peacefully and avoid harming any living breathing

soul15. Prophet Muhammad said “never harm a Muslim, harming a Muslim is

considering harming me and if you harm me, it is considered as harming God’16.

The strongest argument supporting that is simply that the Quran, which is the

most sacred and reliable source in Islam, being God’s direct words, doesn’t contain

any references to it. In fact, “Allah is the One who made the Earth a habitat for you,

and the sky as a structure, and He designed you, and has perfected your design.”

(Qur’an 40:64)

13
Koso-Thomas, Olayinka. The Circumcision of Women: A Strategy for Eradication. N.p.: Zed, 1987.
Print. Page 27
14
Al Fangary, Ahmed Shawky. Circumcision and Religion, Medicine, Psychology, Sociology, History and Law.
N.p.: Egyptian General Authority of the Book, 2011. Print. Page 33

15
“Fatwas Against FGM”. Stop FGM Middle East Organization. N.p. Web :
http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/fatwas-against-fgm/

16
Al Fangary, Ahmed Shawky. Circumcision and Religion, Medicine, Psychology, Sociology, History and Law.
N.p.: Egyptian General Authority of the Book, 2011. Print. Page 33

6
“ But Muslims or scholars who believe in it claim that they do it based on two Hadith

(sayings attributed by the Prophet), which are categorized as two weak ones17.

Then again, in 1996, the Islamic scholar, Muhammad Lufti Al-Sabbagh

published a booklet about FGM that was funded by the World Health Organization’s

regional office located in Alexandria, whereas he argued that all Hadiths that refer to

FGM lack authenticity and are poorly evaluated. Afterwards, there were another

Fatwa issues banning circumcision claiming that it the Hadith is not reliable, as the

prophet didn’t let his daughters undergo FGM18. Hence, there is no valid proof of

Islam legitimizing FGM other than uncertain Fatwas.

Also, The Egyptian National Council for Childhood and Motherhood had

published another booklet by Selim El Awaa, whereas he also argued that Islamic

jurisprudential should abide by the scientific theories that the body encounters

dysfunctions and deprivation of its natural functions and its legitimate pleasures.19

In Islam, there are several sects in which the most popular one is the Sunni

that is divided into four schools. In Asia, the Shafa’i, a Muslim Sunni law school that

dominates Indonesia and Iraq, adopts the belief that FMG is actually a requirement in

the Islamic religion. Two other schools do not see as a mandatory Sunni practice, yet

they do not prohibited.20

Similarly, one could say that there is a unanimous agreement amongst

Catholics scholars that FGM is not a religious practice and does not abide by
17
Guenbaum, Ellen. The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective. Philadelphia:
University Of Pennsylvania, 2001. Print. Page 65

18
ibid. page 65

19
“Fatwas Against FGM”. Stop FGM Middle East Organization. N.p. Web :
http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/fatwas-against-fgm/

20
Piecher, Olivier. "No “African Problem” Stop FGM Middle East Organization.Web:
"Http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/ /. N.p., n.d. Web.

7
Christian law.21 In fact, in the Conference of East-Africa Program, the leader and

representative of the Catholics had affirmed: “Christian doctrine is clear on the

sanctity of the human body”22.

III. Egypt: FGM and Women’s rights

a. Egyptian Women

As an Egyptian woman who had lived her whole life wandering around

Egyptian streets, it is indeed shameful to admit, on behalf of all Egyptian women,

how oppressed, mistreated and misperceived they are. Egyptian women are not only

controlled by their society in how and what they dress, but it goes as far as controlling

the way they speak, walk, drive and even laugh. According to the Egyptian Center of

Women’s rights, Egypt is ranked as the 125 th country amongst 136 countries when it

comes to gender discrimination.

b. FGM in Egypt

Egypt is considered on of top three countries in relation to the most practiced

FMG, according to the UNICEF’s statistical overview, there has been 27.2 million
21
El Damanhoury, I. E. "The Jewish and Christian View on Female Genital Mutilation." Pan African Urological
Surgeons’ Association, 2013. Web.

22
Ibid

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(Figure 1) girls who have been circumcised.23 However, the numbers have dropped

from 97% in 1985 to 70% in 2015 (Figure 2). 24 Furthermore, 72 % of the FGM cases

are completed and done by doctors. Actually, it has been stated by Jaime Nadal, the

representative of the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) in Cairo: “if we were able to

eradicate FGM in Egypt, we could get rid of one-fourth of the cases worldwide”25

In 2008, FGM was officially considered as a crime according to article 242 of

Egypt’s Penal Code. 26Those who perform the circumcision, they were either to be

sentenced from three months to two years or fined a penalty bill of 5000 EGP.

However, it only happened in January of 2015, that the Egyptian Court of Justice

enclosed a hearing during trial against a doctor who performed FGM and caused the

death of 13-year-old girl. The doctor was sentenced to two years and three months of

prison that included hard labor for manslaughter.27 He was also fined what is

equivalent to 68 USD, meaning 500 EGP. 28

III. Sudan: FGM and Women’s rights

a. Sudanese Women

23
UNICEF FMGC Report 2016

24
Ibid.

25
Kingsley, Patrick. "In Egypt, Social Pressure Means FGM Is Still the Norm."The Guardian. Guardian News and
Media, 06 Feb. 2015. Web.

26
"Egypt Will ‘Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation By 2030’: Health Minister."Http://egyptianstreets.com/. N.p.,
6 Feb. 2016. Web.

27
Ibid.

28
Ibid.

9
 According to the Arab States for Women’s Rights, Sudan ranks number 17 on the

list out of 22 countries29. Sudanese women are tied up with legal, economic, social

and cultural barriers. In fact, it has been documented that Sudan has the one of highest

illiteracy rate. According to the Sudan National Bureau of Statistics, 81 % of women

in Sudan do not know how to read nor write. One of the main causes behind such high

rates of illiteracy is the civil war that lasted for about 21 years, in which schools and

several educational institutions were wrecked and shattered. Education is worth

mentioning when discussing such topics as it is one of the main factors behind the

ignorance of the women who accept and surrender to FGM.

b. FGM in Sudan
Sadly, even though there have been major efforts and campaigns calling upon

the eradication of FGM, it still manages to spread out amongst families. In fact, some

said they feel pressured from their husbands while others claimed that they choose to

be circumcised thinking they would fit in better with the society that hold such norms

and cultures.30 In its last updated report, UNICEF estimated that between Sudanese

women and girls, aged from 15 to 49, there are 87% of them that have been mutilated

or circumcised. 31 Today, Sudan is ranked as the fifth country with highest FGM rates

around the world.

In the past decade, there had been several initiatives to stop such criminal acts

against women. In 2007, the Sudanese Parliament got passed on voting on a law to

abolish FGM whereas it was suggested bill payment and a 10-year prison period. 32
29
"Sudan One of Worst Countries for Women's Rights."Www.dabangasudan.org/. N.p., 13 Nov. 2013. Web

30
Salih, Zeinab Mohammed. "FGM Spreading to Minority Groups in Sudan, Say Campaigners." The Guardian.
Guardian News and Media, 15 Feb. 2016. Web.

31
Ibid

32
Ibid.

10
Yet, up till today, the amendment has not been furtherly discussed and is still held on

pause. Also, In 2008, a national strategy adopted by the UNICEF to conceive the

Saleema Initiative which is supervised by the National Council on Child Welfare 33

that falls under the ministry that deals with women in Sudan. Notwithstanding the

signing of a national strategy by the president of Sudan to put end to FGM but he

ended up removing the article 13 from the final drafted constitution 34. Due to the fact

that he was pressured by the ICC to sign such strategy, the Salafist of his country

insisted that It was an Islamic tradition which is what led him to drop the case. 35

Regardless of the supported campaigns and the funded initiatives, FGM remains

widespread amongst Sudanese families even after the Sudanese government

introduced a new regulation that reinforces solid punishment on those who still

manage to perform the crime. 36

The current Sudanese parliament is made up mostly from Islamic figures, which

makes it even harder on the government to criminalize FGM. 37 When Amira Al-

Fadil, a reformist, attempted to criminalize FGM by starting an initiative backed up

by the National Council for Child Welfare that is part of the Ministry of Welfare, the

33
"FGM on Decline in Sudan as Attitudes Shift: UNICEF." - Sudan Tribune: Plural News and Views on Sudan.
N.p., 12 Feb. 2014. Web.

34
El Naggar, Samia, and Liv Tonnessen. "Criminalizing FGM in Sudan: A Never Ending Story?" CMI. N.p., 4
May 2016. Web.

35
Ibid

36
FGM on Decline in Sudan as Attitudes Shift: UNICEF." - Sudan Tribune: Plural News and Views on Sudan.
N.p., 12 Feb. 2014. Web.

37
El Naggar, Samia, and Liv Tonnessen. "Criminalizing FGM in Sudan: A Never Ending Story?" CMI. N.p., 4
May 2016. Web.

11
minister replaced her because he was a conservative. 38 Thus, one could clearly that the

Sudanese government disregards any efforts and does not take a solid stand against

FGM.

III. India
a. Indian Women:
The status of Indian women remains inferior to those of men. They are barely even

given any rights whereas they lack equality and liberty39. The situation gets even

worse if they give birth to a girl. 40To understand the Indian culture and the women’s

position, in some communities, women are obliged to eat after their men so they could

have the leftovers41. Such norm indicates that the minimal respect or appreciation for

the Indian woman is not even present within parts of the society.

b. FGM in India:
In Mumbai, FGM is wildly spread across the Dawoodi Bohra community, a relatively

small one compared to the size of India. 42 The Bohra community is divided three

sects: Dawoodis, Sulemanis and Alvis43. Within the Dawoodi Bohra sect, there are

girls who are circumcised before they hit puberty or right after they do 44. The Bohra

community is ran by the Shi’a Sect of which Sydena of Bohra, who is the highest

38
Ibid.

39
N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.womenempowermentinindia.com/status-of-women-in-india/>.

40
Datta, Pinak Pani. "Female Genital Mutilation: An Open Secret In India."Http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/. N.p.,
17 Apr. 2012. Web.

41
Ibid.

42
Ibid.

43
Das, Mohua. "Women Welcome Syedna Rival’s Stand on Circumcision." N.p., 9 May 2016. Web .

44
Datta, Pinak Pani. "Female Genital Mutilation: An Open Secret In India."Http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/. N.p.,
17 Apr. 2012. Web.

12
priest, encourage the practice of FGM which creates conflict and challenges to those

who are attempting to ban it.

V. Conclusion

According to Doctor, Nawal El Saadawi, a medical doctor, author and a

famous anti-FGM campaigner45, that historical and anthological studies had proven

that FGM has nothing to do with Egyptian ancient history, nor Arabs nor Muslims,

not Christians nor Jews nor Buddhists; rather it is related to a type of social and

economic system ruling us. It is not a crime related to color, race or religion;

somewhat it is related to the concept of human slavery46.

She firmly believes that the reasons for the lower status of women in their

societies, and the lack of opportunities offered for them, is not due to their religion but

again due to the economic and political forces “namely those of foreign imperialism

operating mainly from the outside, and of the reactionary classes operating on the

inside”47. She adds that these two forces work closely and end up causing a focused

attempt to misinterpret religion in order to utilize it as an instrument or fear,

oppression and exploitation. It is not possible for a religion to call for disease,

mutilation or amputation of any body parts.

Even though Islam cherishes Sexual relationship between married couples and

there is no way that it orders its people to do something that reduces its pleasure,

people still use other fallacies to brainwash young girls’ minds. Persuading a girl that

FGM will preserve her reputation, cleanness or purity is fallacy. Such way of thinking
45
Cooke, Rachel. "Nawal El Saadawi: ‘Do You Feel You Are Liberated? I Feel I Am Not’." N.p., 11 Oct. 2015.
Web.
46
Montasser, Khaled. Circumcision and Violence against Women. Ed. Sanaa El Bissi. N.p.: Dar El Ein,
2003. Print. Page 37
47
Saadawi, Nawal El. The Hidden Eye Of Eve. Ed. Sherif Hetata. London and New York: Zed, 1980.
Print. Page 41

13
is wrong and even dangerous because what protects or controls a boy or a girl from

sinning is not the removal of a small piece of skin, but we should educate them and

nurture their consciousness and understanding of the problems they might face if they

do sin. When raising awareness to such issue, we should enlighten the women’s mind

that as we increase our consciousness it leads us closer to our aims of drawing human

motives, morals and values, and the greater we increase our desire to live life to its

fullest and appreciate its quality, is where they will avoid surrendering to the mere

satisfaction of their senses and the experience of pleasure48.

Nevertheless, the practice of circumcision does not fall under the category of

health problems for which solutions can be found through actions outside the domain

of the culture, because it has strong religious and cultural base without which it would

not exist today, and because this base structure has long been shrouded in secrecy and

protected by emotional and communal ties, it is thus very difficult to dislodge.

VI. References:

1. Cooke, Rachel. "Nawal El Saadawi: ‘Do You Feel You Are Liberated? I Feel I

Am Not’." N.p., 11 Oct. 2015. Web.

2. Datta, Pinak Pani. "Female Genital Mutilation: An Open Secret In

India."Http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/. N.p., 17 Apr. 2012. Web.

3. Das, Mohua. "Women Welcome Syedna Rival’s Stand on Circumcision." N.p., 9

May 2016. Web.

48
Saadawi, Nawal El. The Hidden Eye Of Eve. Ed. Sherif Hetata. London and New York: Zed, 1980.
Print. Page 42

14
4. "Egypt Will ‘Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation By 2030’: Health

Minister."Http://egyptianstreets.com/. N.p., 6 Feb. 2016. Web.

5. El Damanhoury, I. E. "The Jewish and Christian View on Female Genital

Mutilation." Pan African Urological Surgeons’ Association, 2013. Web.

6. El Naggar, Samia, and Liv Tonnessen. "Criminalizing FGM in Sudan: A Never

Ending Story?" CMI. N.p., 4 May 2016. Web.

7. “Fatwas Against FGM”. Stop FGM Middle East Organization. N.p. Web :

http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/fatwas-against-fgm/

8. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern. UNICEF, New York,

2016.

9. FGM on Decline in Sudan as Attitudes Shift: UNICEF." - Sudan Tribune: Plural

News and Views on Sudan. N.p., 12 Feb. 2014. Web.

10. Kingsley, Patrick. "In Egypt, Social Pressure Means FGM Is Still the Norm."The

Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 06 Feb. 2015. Web.

11. Koso-Thomas, Olayinka. The Circumcision of Women: A Strategy for

Eradication. N.p.: Zed, 1987. Print.

12. Montasser, Khaled. Circumcision and Violence against Women. Ed. Sanaa El

Bissi. N.p.: Dar El Ein, 2003. Print.

13. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.womenempowermentinindia.com/status-of-women-

in-india/>.

14. Piecher, Olivier. "No “African Problem” Stop FGM Middle East

Organization.Web: "Http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/ /. N.p., n.d. Web.

15
15. Saadawi, Nawal El. The Hidden Eye Of Eve. Ed. Sherif Hetata. London and New

York: Zed, 1980. Print.

16. Salih, Zeinab Mohammed. "FGM Spreading to Minority Groups in Sudan, Say

Campaigners." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 15 Feb. 2016. Web.

17. Sexual and Reproductive Health." World Health Organization. N.p., n.d. Web.

18. "Sudan One of Worst Countries for Women's Rights."Www.dabangasudan.org/.

N.p., 13 Nov. 2013. Web

19. UNICEF FMGC Report 2016

20. Yount, Kathryne M. "Female Genital Cutting and Reproductive Experience in

Minya, Egypt." Www.ucpress.edu. The American Anthropological Association,

2006. Web.

VII. Appendices.

16
Figure (1)

Source: http://www.stopfgmmideast.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/bildschirmfoto-2014-02-25-um-18-28-02.png

17
Figure (2)

Source:
http://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGMC_2016_brochure_final_UNICEF_SPREA
D(2).pdf

18