Muslims Against FGM

An initiative of MY Project USA to end Female Genital Mutilation

Have you undergone FGM? Do you know someone who has? We want to know how to help you!

Overview:

What is FGM? Female Genital Mutilation is known as FGM, Female cutting, Female Circumcision. It has different names in different languages. What is it called in your language?

There are different kinds of FGM:

Type I - Clitoridectomy: refers to the removal of the clitoral hood; i.e. the cutting away of the upper fold of clitoris, which may be accompanied by partial or total removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy).

Type II - Excision: is the partial or total removal of the clitoral hood and the clitoris, and cutting away of the labia minora in whole or in part.

Type III - Infundibulation: is the total or partial removal of all external genitalia of a woman, and the suturing or narrowing of the vaginal opening infibulation.

Type IV - Other: is non-classified; e.g. pricking, piercing, or incising the clitoris, labia minora or majora.

Did you know?

Did you know that over 200 million girls have undergone FGM worldwide? And most of these girls its happened under the age of 15.
Did you know that almost all Muslim countries have criminalized it, meaning that it's against the law?
Did you know that 80% of women who underwent FGM have anxiety or affective disorders? Did you know they also have a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), about 30%?
Did you know that FGM can prevent women from going to the bathroom comfortably? They also have painful periods. And painful sex. At least 30% of women with FGM have problems urinating, and repeated urinary tract infections.
Did you know that FGM victims have a higher rate of infection from HIV and other infections?
Did you know that FGM can cause obstruction in childbirth? And cause tears while the baby is coming out?
Did you know that repeated infections from FGM can lead to infertility?
Did you know that FGM can cause sexual disorders and dyspareunia?
Did you know that girls and women can die from FGM?

Watch our Playlist on YouTube

Victims talk about being cut:

FGM occurs in different strata, educational levels, backgrounds, cultures. In many cases, a doctor performs the procedure. Doctors in FGM prevalent countries often feel the same cultural pressures. They also may not have adequate physician training as doctors in more developed countries and may not know its complications. The doctors themselves may be desperate for the money or fees are given by the girl's family.

Read about A.H. a victim of FGM in her home country in Africa.

Interview with a Victim

A.H.’s experience:

How old are you?

I am 38 years old

What is your educational background and that of your parents?

I am a physician, my father is a teacher but my mother is a housewife

Do you remember when you underwent FGM? How old were you at the time?

When I was 8 years old

Did you understand what was happening?

Yes

Who performed the procedure?

He was a male Doctor who came to my home a home visit.

Did he know it was illegal?

He knew it was illegal

Did you feel it? What was the worst pain?

Yes it was done by using a local anesthetic, yes i feel the cut [even with the anesthetic] , i feel a burning sensation especially with urination [for a long time after that]

What did your mother and father say about it?

They told me it was obligatory in our family and country. Added they said nobody will marry me if I didn't do it.

Did you ever talk to your parents about it again?

Have you had:

Painful intercourse

Yes

Repeated urinary infections

Yes

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Yes

Difficulty in childbirth

Not yet [no children yet]

Psychological trauma

Yes

Did you know there is reconstructive surgery to reverse the cutting and scarring? Have you sought treatment?

Yes

How has it affected your marriage relationship?

It was horrible because I spent 5 days of my honeymoon in hospital as I do reconstructive surgery

What does your husband think?

My husband was understanding and supportive to me

Would you have it done to your daughter?

Do you think it's religion or culture?

Culture

What would you like to say to everyone?

"I want to tell the parent that mutilation is very harmful to your daughter, you didn’t protect her by it [instead] you destroyed her marriage relationship"

Seeking treatment:

Are you a victim of FGM? Did you know there is a treatment for it?

Watch the story of Sister Maha Hussein, a 42-year-old Somali Refugee as she undergoes treatment in San Diego:

Part 1

Part 2 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM

- FEBRUARY 6-

FGM... Haram or Halal?

FGM is not a Sunnah:
The Prophet SAS never had his daughters or wives undergo cutting or genital mutilation.
It's not mentioned in the Quran.
Allah created us, Men and Women in the best of forms.
In the Holy Quran, the Almighty Lord described his creation to be in the best form: َ ْ"We have indeed created man In the best of molds."
“The One Who has ‘perfected everything’ He has created and began the creation of human beings from clay” (Qur’an 32:7)
“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)
“(Satan said), ‘I will command them and they will change Allah’s creation.'” (Qur’an 4:119-120)
It's haram to distort or change Allah’s creation.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) pointing out that ("Allah curses those who change His creation». Muslim scholars said it is an agreed-upon Hadith").
Islam prohibits inflicting harm upon health.
"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." SAS
FGM causes harm to the woman and man, physically and psychologically.
Sometimes, there is a reference to hadith that is weak, one of which is known as Umm Attiya’s Hadith. These three hadith are weak.“In fact, all reporters of this Hadith narrated it by weak isnad (chain of transmission), as outlined by Al-Hafiz Zin El-Din Al Iraqi in his comment on Imam Ghazali's ‘Revival of Religious Sciences’ (1/148). Further, Imam Abu Dawood commented on this Hadith saying "it was reported by Obaid Allah Bin Amro about Abdul Malik on its meaning and isnad, yet it is not a strong reporter, and it was narrated loosely. It is a weak Hadith" So it's a weak hadith. Weak hadiths are not enough for a fatwa.