"..the most moderate opinion and the most likely one to be correct is in favor of practicing circumcision in the moderate Islamic way indicated in some of the Prophet's Hadiths - even though such Hadiths are not confirmed to be authentic. It is reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said to a midwife: "Reduce the size of the clitoris but do not exceed the limit, for that is better for her health and is preferred by husbands".

The Hadith indicates that circumcision is better for a woman's health and it enhances her conjugal relation with her husband, the Prophet's saying "do not exceed the limit" means do not totally remove the clitoris."

"Genital clitoris mutilation is not an Islamic practice. It is in fact against Islamic teaching. Clitoral mutilation performed in several African countries including Egypt are traditional practice and has nothing to do with Islam, although several misguided muslim group practiced the tradition."

Rowani.

Please do not use the phrase "female genital mutilation" to describe this practice. The term used to describe culturally endorsed genital mutilation which is often over-laid with specious religious justification and supported by the victims to which the barbaric practice has been applied is circumcision. All forms of circumcision for anything other than strict medical necessity (a vanishingly small proportion) is culturally endorsed child sexual abuse. Using the term circumcision to describe butchery of the penis and using a different label for the (admittedly far more severe) mutilation of the female genitals is only helping to increase the problem by making out that in some way male circumcision is acceptable and normal.

Circumcision is wrong. All forms of cosmetic surgery on children is wrong. All forms of surgical manipulation of the genitals of pre-pubescent children is wrong. Don't split hairs on this matter. Circumcision is evil. Female circumcision is more evil because more function is denied the victim but let's be quite clear about this, hacking away at the genitals of children because it was done in the past is wrong, no matter what tissues are removed and what justifications are offered. Genital mutilation is wrong, male or female. Use the same words, use the same revulsion, use the same resolve. End this barbarity now.

http://mwillett.org/mind/circumcise.htm

--

Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org/

To Whom It May Concern:

Jia Yin

The interview questions are as below:

1. In society where rape crimes are relatively high and virginity is deemed as the utmost importance, do you think that FGM can be one of the possible ways to prevent young girls from being raped? Why?

2. FGM is a tradition that has been carried out for many generations to promote health (i.e. enhance fertility and reduce masturbation); ironically, it has also results in unwanted health complications during childbirth and pregnancy. What is your view on this?

3. What is your opinion towards the practice of FGM?

4. Many articles report that FGM is a torturous practice, however, study shows that most of these devastating implications of FGM reported in various materials do not have significant evidence and many of the reports contain methodological flaws. As an expert in this field, please comment of this.

5. One of the main purposes of FGM is to ensure the faithfulness of wives to their husbands. Throughout all these years of FGM practice, do you think that FGM has achieved its objectives? How?

1. In society where rape crimes are relatively high and virginity is deemed as the utmost importance, do you think that FGM can be one of the possible ways to prevent young girls from being raped? Why?

Rape exists in all human societies and all societies tend to imagine they have more of a problem with rape than other societies. Rape is an issue that can easily generate strong emotions which are blind to reason. The spectre of rape has been used many times to justify war, oppression and other barbarities.

I cannot even begin to comprehend what mechanism could be suggested which would explain how removing a child's clitoris will discourage rape. Rapists do not rape to cause their victims sexual pleasure. The motives are to dominate and to inseminate. These motives will be unaffected by the removal of the clitoris. If genital mutilation extends to suturing the vulva closed to the extent that penetration is not possible then this may prevent some rapes, or possibly turn them into sodomy and/or murder.

Similar logic can be used to suggest the widespread adoption of suicide to prevent murder or burning down your house to discourage burglary.

Is this argument used by women or men? I can assure you I have never come across a woman who would volunteer to have her labia stitched closed, no matter how fearful she was of being raped. In the west women's imagined surgical solutions to the rape problem never involve stiches to the vulva...

2. FGM is a tradition that has been carried out for many generations to promote health (i.e. enhance fertility and reduce masturbation);
ironically, it has also results in unwanted health complications during childbirth and pregnancy. What is your view on this?

There is no irony here. Genital mutilation or circumcision, of either sex, has never been about health. Such explanations are retrospective justifications and have nothing to do with the origin of the practice.

Reducing masturbation has no effect on health. Masturbation is not a disease or a problem.

3. What is your opinion towards the practice of FGM?

Genital mutilation is unacceptable under any circumstances. To do it to children incapable of understanding but capable of suffering is barbarous and inhumane. To do it pretending it has something to do with the will of god(s) is blasphemous.

4. Many articles report that FGM is a torturous practice, however, study shows that most of these devastating implications of FGM reported in various materials do not have significant evidence and many of the reports contain methodological flaws. As an expert in this field, please comment of this.

I am not an expert in this field. It isn't necessary to show medical damage to condemn an unnecessary and painful procedure on a child too young to give informed consent.

5. One of the main purposes of FGM is to ensure the faithfulness of wives to their husbands. Throughout all these years of FGM practice, do you think that FGM has achieved its objectives? How?

Yes, it has achieved many of its objectives. It has reduced women's enjoyment of sex and so dampened their desire to be unfaithful. However female sexuality is more than just sexual response, it is also strongly about choice of partners. Genital mutilation cannot change a woman's ideas about who she is attracted to or wants to father her children. So ultimately FGM cannot fully succeed because the woman's largest erogenous zone and sexual organ is her brain. FGM alone cannot destroy her brain and her will, that task requires Islam.

The purpose of female genital mutilation is to destroy female sexuality and desire so that women become more easily manipulated by their fathers and husbands. It works extremely well. Not only does it reduce female enjoyment of sex it also creates a dependence and a love of the abuser, a kind of Stockholm syndrome. Both male and female victims of circumcision actually come to support the continuation of the practice and believe the fairy stories that surround the practices and are used to justify its continuation.

--
Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org

Dear Mr. Willett,

Thank you for replying my e-mail interview. I am glad that you are willing to spare your precious time on it. Your help is indeed appreciated.

Jia Yin.