Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt, Its a big deal!

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has an interesting article on the controversy raging in Egypt about Female Genital Mutilation.

Here's a discription of FGM from the article "The practice involves the excision of the external genitalia, most often the clitoris."

And this little tidbit: "According to demographic surveys conducted in Egypt in 1995 and 2001, 97 percent of married women of childbearing age had been circumcised."

And this: "The Prophet [Muhammad] commanded women to perform circumcision using the expression, 'Perform circumcision for girls.'" This phrase, he says, includes a clear endorsement of circumcision under specific circumstances, while understanding the difficulty and complexity of the issue regarding girls: "Removing the entire organ that causes the woman pleasure clearly contradicts the pure Sunna [tradition of the Prophet], because this is likely to cause disease and emotional complications to girls, and thus prevent them from realizing their natural rights. Conversely, not performing the circumcision is likely [to] cause girls infections and sometimes even diseases."

Apparently there is quite a to and fro about it. Here are some paragraph headers:

"First Lady Suzanne Mubarak: 'Women's Humanity Must No Longer be Forfeit'"

"Former Al-Azhar Sheikh: 'Nothing Religious, Moral, or Medical Requires Circumcising Girls'"

"Possible Actions Against the Practice of Circumcising Girls"

"The Islamists – Proponents of Circumcising Girls: 'Circumcision is the Merit of Girls'"

"Dr. Ahmad Suleiman of Cairo University: 'Circumcising a Girl Brings Modesty, Honor, and Emotional Balance'"

"Circumcising Girls Prevents AIDS and Prostitution"

"The Attempt to Prevent Circumcising Girls is a Western Conspiracy"

"Circumcising Girls Prevents Unnatural Sexual Pleasure"

"The Religious Establishment – No Definitive Stand"

Read the whole thing: MEMRI.org