FGM is a practice common in sub-Saharan Africa. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a victim of the practice, acknowledges the practice is not mentioned in the Qur’an and in fact predates Islam (though she does claim Muslim religious authorities are silent on the practice).
Indeed, the practice is common among both Jewish and Christian women in Ethiopia, as well as among some Animist African cultures. Sadly, when Islam entered this region, its influence was unable to completely stamp out the practice. Hence sub-Saharan converts to Islam and their descendants continued to carry out this vile procedure on young girls.
By giving it the adjective of “Islamic”, Blair is effectively suggesting that Islamic theology and sacred law encourage and endorse the practice. That, or he is suggesting that the practice is widespread among Muslim communities across the world.
One in four Muslims are of South Asian extraction (as in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as ex pats of these countries). FGM is unknown among any religious congregation from this part of the world. It is also unknown in the Turkish speaking world (as in Turkey and the Central Asian Turkic republics), Iran, China and most of the Arab world. It is also unknown in Muslim Europe (Bosnia and Albania).
By declaring the practice “Islamic”, Blair is providing this disgusting violation of human rights to become potentially an issue of freedom of religion. He is also placing undue emphasis on Muslim victims of the practice, thereby ignoring the plight of millions of sub-Saharan non-Muslim women and girls who are forced to undergo the procedure.
Blair is once again using a human rights and law enforcement issue as a means to attack a set of religious cultures for which he has frequently expressed virulent hatred.
Words © 2007 Irfan Yusuf
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Ifran,
ReplyDeleteWould love to hear your take on the latest Landeryou tripe.
regards,
Kieran
A fan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting
ReplyDeleteIn 1994, Egyptian Mufti Sheikh Jad Al-Hâqq 'Ali Jad Al-Hâqq issued a fatwa stating: "Circumcision is mandatory for men and for women. If the people of any village decide to abandon it, the [village] imam must fight against them as if they had abandoned the call to prayer.[21]
79% prevalence in Egypt.
Who is lying? You or wikipedia?
Yes, I always look to Wikipedia for authoritative information. And the moon is made of green cheese emitted from the backsides of flying pigs.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, does Ms Anonymous know what the status of a fatwa is in Islamic sacred law?
See this.
ReplyDeleteThe burqa is worn by a small minority of Muslim women. Does that mean it's not Islamic?
ReplyDeleteDo you think female genital mutilation is any worse than male genital mutilation?
ReplyDelete"FGM is a practice common in sub-Saharan Africa. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a victim of the practice, acknowledges the practice is not mentioned in the Qur’an and in fact predates Islam (though she does claim Muslim religious authorities are silent on the practice)." she is right, it predates both Islam and Christianity. In fact, it dates back to the times of the pharoahs.
ReplyDeleteMuslim religious authorities are not silent about it, many of them banned the practice n imposed many laws but the problem is the whole system in the countries where it is practiced. The laws are there but they are not properly implemented.
J f Beck,
The Burqa is not mandatory at all in fact, most muslims don't believe in it. I'm a Muslim and I don't think I should wear the burqa. The Quranic verse about the burqa is very debatable.I think it's all about "personal choices".
Many women choose to wear it because they believe its the right thing to do but others dont.