The Shadow Epidemic: Female Genital Mutilation In Afghanistan

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice recognised internationally as a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence. It involves the partial or complete removal of the female external genitalia and can include other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is practised in 30 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of the Middle East and Asia, and within some immigrant communities in Europe, North America and Australia.

There is some evidence to suggest that FGM is practised in Afghanistan. However, this is disputed. One source states that Afghans haven't even heard of it. Another source mentions that there is anecdotal evidence of FGM among refugee women from Afghanistan in Iran, but this has not been substantiated. Afghanistan is sometimes mentioned as a non-African country where FGM is practised.

FGM is not a religious practice, but a cultural one. It is often done under religious pretences in the name of Christianity and Islam to prevent a daughter from engaging in premarital sex and bringing shame to the family. However, it is not ascribed in Islam, unlike male circumcision.

FGM in Afghanistan is not a mainstream practice and is not a part of the culture or religion

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is not a mainstream practice in Afghanistan and is not a part of the culture or religion. While Afghanistan has been ranked as the world's most dangerous country for women, with high maternal mortality rates, limited access to doctors, and a lack of economic rights, FGM is not a prevalent issue in the country.

FGM, also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons." It is a form of sexual castration designed to deter women from engaging in premarital sex, often carried out under unsanitary conditions and causing severe pain, bleeding, and swelling, as well as long-term health complications.

FGM is often associated with Muslims due to its spread to select Muslim communities outside its place of origin in Africa. However, in Afghanistan, FGM is not practised at all, and Afghans are largely unaware of its existence. While there are mentions of FGM in Afghanistan in some sources, these claims are refuted by others, who argue that such assumptions are racist and inaccurate.

FGM is a cultural phenomenon and is not a religious practice in Islam. While male circumcision is a part of Islamic religious tradition, FGM is several times more dangerous, has no health benefits, and is essentially sexual castration. It is important to note that FGM is not limited to any specific religion or culture and can be found in various parts of the world, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and among immigrant communities in Western countries.

The practice of FGM is a violation of human rights and has been internationally recognised as such. The United Nations (UN) has set a goal to end FGM by 2030, and organisations like World Vision are working to educate and empower girls and their communities to eradicate this harmful tradition.

FGM is a cultural phenomenon and is not ascribed in Islam

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural phenomenon and is not ascribed in Islam. While it is true that the majority of Islamic scholars reject FGM, it is important to note that Islam is similarly diverse as Christianity, with many differing views. A significant number of Muslims do believe FGM is a requirement of Islam. The Shafi'I school of Sunni Islam and the Dawoodi Bohra branch of Shia Islam are two sects that consider genital cutting to be a requirement. The Maliki, Hanafi and Hanbali schools of Sunni have also considered female genital cutting a 'virtue'. In Malaysia, where 93% of women from Muslim families have undergone FGM, 82% claim it is a religious obligation.

FGM is a very ancient traditional and cultural ritual that predates Islam. It is not mentioned in the Quran, the verbatim word of God in Islam. Muslim religious authorities agree that all types of mutilation, including FGM, are condemned. The principle of 'do no harm', endorsed by Islam, supersedes cultural practices, logically eliminating FGM from receiving any Islamic religious endorsement.

The motivations behind FGM are multi-layered and complex. While controlling women's sexuality is perhaps part of the motivation behind FGM, there are a number of problems with ascribing this as the sole reason for the practice. Firstly, it should be noted that every community that practices FGM also practices male circumcision. Secondly, it is disputable that circumcision is not usually done "to subjugate the boy". The US is one of the minority of countries where non-therapeutic circumcision is routinely performed on boys, and a primary reason for this was to deter boys from masturbation. Boys were therefore circumcised as an attempt to control their sexual urges and behaviour.

FGM is often directly linked to child marriage, which many parents view as the most viable option for their daughters, especially during economic uncertainties. Mothers, fathers, extended family, and community leaders may force or coerce girls and young women to undergo the procedure to be accepted as clean and ready for marriage. FGM is a type of sexual castration designed to make intercourse painful to discourage girls from engaging in sex before marriage. This also makes marital intercourse and giving birth extremely painful and dangerous.

FGM is a painful and harrowing experience for any girl and has multiple psychological consequences such as fear, depression, mistrust of parents and loss of self-confidence. Furthermore, the procedure implants in the mind of the child a dreadful illustration of herself as an immature being who is unable to respect her body and control her sexual desires and behaviour.

FGM is a global problem and is practiced in at least 30 countries across three continents. While most prevalent in Africa and the Middle East, it is also practiced in Asia and Latin America. Among immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, female genital mutilation continues to persist.

FGM is a form of sexual castration designed to make intercourse painful to discourage girls from engaging in sex before marriage

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It involves the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is a form of sexual castration designed to make intercourse painful to discourage girls from engaging in sex before marriage.

FGM is a cultural phenomenon and is not a religious practice. It is often done under religious pretences in the name of Christianity and Islam to prevent a daughter from engaging in premarital sex and bringing shame to the family. However, it is not prescribed by any religion and has no health benefits. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has denounced the practice.

FGM is usually performed on girls and young women under 18, with most procedures taking place between the ages of 0 and 15. The type of mutilation, the age at which it is carried out, and the way in which it is done vary according to a variety of factors, including the girl or woman's ethnic group, the country they are living in (whether in a rural or urban area), and their socio-economic background.

FGM is a serious issue, causing severe pain and bleeding, shock, difficulty in passing urine, infections, injury to nearby genital tissue, and sometimes death. It can also lead to long-term physical, sexual, and psychological consequences, such as chronic pain, chronic pelvic infections, development of cysts, abscesses and genital ulcers, excessive scar tissue formation, infection of the reproductive system, decreased sexual enjoyment, and psychological consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

FGM is still practised in at least 30 countries across three continents, with an estimated 200-230 million girls and women alive today having undergone the procedure. It is most prevalent in Africa and the Middle East but is also practised in Asia and Latin America.

FGM is driven by traditional beliefs that are passed on through generations and enforced by societal approvals such as marriage prospects. These societal rules make it difficult for individuals or families to abandon the practice, and the immediate or long-term health complications are overlooked as the perceived social benefits are deemed higher than the disadvantages.

FGM is not practised in Afghanistan, although there have been reports of high prevalence in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran.

FGM is often done under religious pretences in the name of Christianity and Islam to prevent a daughter from engaging in premarital sex and bringing shame to the family

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is a form of sexual castration designed to make intercourse painful to discourage girls from engaging in premarital sex and bringing shame to the family. FGM is often done under religious pretences in the name of Christianity and Islam. However, it is not an obligation of any religion, whether Islam, Christianity or Judaism. In fact, the practice predates the advent of these religions.

FGM is prevalent in 30 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of the Middle East and Asia, and within some immigrant communities in Europe, North America and Australia. It is also seen in some populations of South Asia. The highest known prevalence rates are in 30 African countries, in a band that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Ethiopia on the east coast, as well as from Egypt in the north to Tanzania in the south.

FGM is not practised in Afghanistan. However, it is practised in neighbouring Pakistan, where it is not among the Pashtuns. It is also practised in India, among the Bohra Muslims of Pakistan and the Sheedi Muslim community of Pakistan, which is considered to be of Arab-African origins.

FGM is a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence. It has serious implications for the physical, psychological, and sexual and reproductive health of girls and women. It is internationally recognised as a crime and a punishable offence in many countries.

FGM is several times more dangerous than male circumcision, has no health benefits, and is essentially sexual castration

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a practice that is reportedly present in Afghanistan, mainly in the south bordering Pakistan. However, some sources claim that FGM does not occur in Afghanistan, and that it is not a part of the culture or religion.

FGM is a procedure that involves the scarring, pricking, or total removal of a woman's genitalia. It is often done under religious pretences in the name of Christianity and Islam to prevent a daughter from engaging in premarital sex and bringing shame to the family. FGM is several times more dangerous than male circumcision, has no health benefits, and is essentially sexual castration.

Male circumcision is traditionally performed on infant boys and sometimes on adult males. It involves cutting the foreskin of the penis and is often done with specialized circumcision devices or surgically with anesthesia. While male circumcision is also a form of genital modification, it is done for different reasons and has far fewer consequences than FGM.

FGM has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to have no health benefits and can cause varying degrees of harm, including cysts, urinary tract infections, fatal bleeding, PTSD, and septicemia. Basic bodily functions like urination and menstruation can become difficult and painful, and there is an increased risk of infection. FGM also carries long-term psychological impacts, such as anxiety and depression, and can lead to infertility and complications during childbirth.

In contrast, male circumcision is recommended by the WHO in parts of Africa where the incidence of HIV is high, as it can reduce contraction rates by 60%. While male circumcision may also have risks and complications, they are generally less severe and less common than those associated with FGM.

Frequently asked questions