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Call to end female circumcision | |
(1 day later) | |
Muslim scholars from around the world have called for female genital mutilation to be banned and those who carry it out to face punishment. | |
At a conference on the subject in the Egyptian capital Cairo, the scholars said governments should enforce existing laws against the practice. | |
Earlier, the top religious authorities in Egypt said religion offered no justification for the procedure. | |
Female genital mutilation is widespread in parts of Africa and the Middle East. | Female genital mutilation is widespread in parts of Africa and the Middle East. |
It is relatively unknown in most other parts of the Muslim world, including South and South-east Asia, North Africa and Saudi Arabia. | |
Female circumcision typically involves surgically removing the clitoris of a young girl. | |
Parents who support the practice argue that it helps prevent promiscuous behaviour in their daughters. | Parents who support the practice argue that it helps prevent promiscuous behaviour in their daughters. |
Genital mutilation or female circumcision often robs women of sensitivity in their sexual organs. | Genital mutilation or female circumcision often robs women of sensitivity in their sexual organs. |
'Do not cause harm' | |
The Muslim scholars said female circumcision was an aggression against women and should be stopped. | |
The scholars stressed that Islam forbid people from inflicting harm on others, explaining that those who circumcise their daughters were doing exactly that. | |
The latest declaration was unequivocal and should go a long way towards bolstering campaigns to eradicate the practice in Egypt and elsewhere, says the BBC's Heba Saleh, in Cairo. | |
In recent years, Muslim scholars have spoken out against female genital mutilation, but some had insisted that while it was not required by religion, it was not prohibited. | |
Others said it might be desirable in some cases and that it should be up to the medical profession to decide, our correspondent says. | |
'Doctors' decision' | |
The conference on the subject in Cairo was organised by a German human rights group, Target, and attracted Islamic clerics from across the world. | The conference on the subject in Cairo was organised by a German human rights group, Target, and attracted Islamic clerics from across the world. |
Earlier, speakers explained there was no religious reason for the practice, but hinted doctors should make any final decision. | |
Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the head of the al-Azhar mosque, Sunni Islam's top authority, told the conference: "From a religious point of view, I don't find anything that says that circumcision is a must [for women]." | |
"In Islam, circumcision is for men only," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. | "In Islam, circumcision is for men only," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. |
Ali Gomaa, Egypt's top official Islamic scholar, or grand mufti, told the gathering no examples of the practice could be found in the Prophet Muhammad's life. | Ali Gomaa, Egypt's top official Islamic scholar, or grand mufti, told the gathering no examples of the practice could be found in the Prophet Muhammad's life. |
Another leading cleric, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, said that Islam did not require the practice but some clerics felt it was allowed. | Another leading cleric, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, said that Islam did not require the practice but some clerics felt it was allowed. |