When will Islam rise up and put a stop to female genital mutilation?

Question

If you're in a hurry for 2 points, read the questions in CAPS.
Female genital cutting (FGC) refers to the excision or tissue removal of any part of the female genitalia for cultural, religious or other non-medical reasons. It is also frequently referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision (FC).
Female genital cutting is today mainly practiced in African countries. It is common in a band that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Somalia on the East coast, as well as from Egypt in the north to Tanzania in the south, see Map. In these regions, it is estimated that more than 95% of all women have undergone this procedure. It is also practiced by some groups in the Arabian peninsula, especially among a minority (20%) in Yemen. Whilst FGC is widely practiced out in the open by African Muslims, it is practiced in secrecy in some parts of the Middle East. The practice occurs particularly in northern Saudi Arabia, southern Jordan, and Iraq...(cont. in details)

and there is also circumstantial evidence to suggest it is present in Syria, western Iran and southern Turkey.[13] In Oman a few communities still practice FGC; however, experts believed that the number of such cases was small and declining annually. In the United Arab Emirates and also Saudi Arabia, it is practiced mainly among foreign workers from East Africa and the Nile Valley.

The practice can also be found among a few ethnic groups in South America and India. In Indonesia[14] the practice is fairly common among the country's Muslim women.

Amnesty International estimates that over 130 million women worldwide have been affected by some form of FGC with over 2 million procedures being performed every year.
Islamic juridical logic cannot acknowledge the distinction between female and male circumcision, both being the mutilation of healthy organs which is damaging to the physical integrity of the child, whatever the underlying religious motivations. (cont.....)

Furthermore, both practices violate the Koran: "Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain" (3:191), and "[He] perfected everything He created" (32:7). In our opinion, a god who demands that his believers be mutilated and branded on their genitals the same as cattle, is a god of questionable ethics.

WHEN WILL ISLAM RISE UP AS A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY AND PUT AN END TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION?
WHAT CAN AMERICA DO TO HELP?
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY?

Most of this text can be verified at the wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_circumcision

Actually, medical studies have PROVEN that note only is the female organism an aid to reproduction, but recent African medical studies have determined that the clitoris is necessary in child birth. Women who have had this mutilation done experience long and painful labors, the average is 10 to 12 hours and some even die during childbirth because of. Some are in labor for days because they cannot reach a medical facility.

NUNYA - Did you READ the entire thing? I admit that the Koran FORBIDS this practice, I am simply asking why Islamic countries allow this practice to happen in their own countries when the Koran itself FORBIDS IT. Thank you.

Obviously most of you have not read my entire question. I am NOT blaming Islam for the practice, and I know that the Koran FORBIDS it.
What I am asking is why does this continue to happen in predominantly Islamic countries?

Answer 1

We are!

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6176340.stm

See how ignorant people can be? Never they say. *rolls her eyes*

Edit:
Female genital mutilation is not Islamic!

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.

Answer 2

I sincerely believe they are both as bad as each other, no matter which way you look at it. People need to learn to love each other as they are. Baby boys die from it. Ok, it might not be many, but does that make it ok?? Really?? There should be a law protecting vulnerable people from this, when you're older and come of age, fine, get ugly tattoos, get yourself an ugly weiner, get a metal rod through your eyebrow, I couldn't care less. BUT, when a child is young, and needs PROTECTING, this should not happen. I would imagine while people are still getting paid to do this, they will make up their reasons. The reason should come before the cure, not the other way around. Perverted doctors like doing it and will continue to make excuses (that they nickname medical advantages) so they can keep up their sick practice. I would imagine this is the same in whatever country they practice FGM. I'm so glad I live in England. So so glad. None of that BS happens here. God saaaave the Queeeeeeeeeeen. Oh - and perhaps the reason why America has such a high HIV etc rate is because they believe the lie that circumcision cures everything and will get them into heaven. Maybe if they all knew the truth, that it does sweet FA for their health, it would stop. But then the doctors would lose money, and the manufacturers would lose money, and Lord knows what other hell would break loose in supposedly the most powerful country in the world. Boy oh boy do they exert their power on their beloved little ones.

Answer 3

Only when Islam undergoes a revolution and purges itself of the non-Islamic cultural influences that have created the intolerant society we today call Islamic. women should not have to under go this procedure, its kind of like how in Christianity, babies are baptized with no knowledge of the faith, and many girls that this is done to, must not know much about Islam, considering how they often do it at such a young age.

I think that after all of the interference in Islamic society, America has ruined its reputation in that region and that any attempt the US, or any other western nation in fact, makes to stop this might be seen as some kind of act of war in many areas. It would be better if a native from that area, who was a well respected Imam or something of the like, rose up and took a stand against it. Hopefully somebody will have the guts to do so.

Answer 4

Female Circumcision is NOT an Islamic practice!!!!!

however it IS a CULTURAL custom in mostly africa and some parts of the world by people who might happen to be muslims!!

but of course if wiki says so it HAS to be true eh??? (eyeroll)

EDIT: ok so i actually read the whole thing
and it says:

"In primarily Christian countries (for instance, Ghana), women undergoing circumcision make reference to the practice in the Old Testament, being performed by one of Abraham's wife, Sarah."

WHY then is your question targeted at muslims only???

When there are as many christians practicing this act as muslims, why dont the christians do something to stop it in their countries then???

oh and if your gonna blame islam for something as absurd as female circumcision then i have a question for you...

WHEN WILL CHRISTIANITY RISE UP AS A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY AND PUT AN END TO Bush's rampage for oil in the mid east???

Answer 5

I agree it is barbaric. I hope it can be stopped but it needs the imams islamic leaders to come out against it and as they are all men I do not think they care at all.

Answer 6

its a sick practice just so the female cannot enjoy sexual pleasure and will never know it since her clitoris has been cut out,its one of god's gift to humanbeings to enjoy this pleasure, no man has the right to take it away, this is an ungodly practice, and is unnatural

Answer 7

We could show our support for secular Muslims and our shared horror at this unnecessary and utterly inhumane practice.

Answer 8

This is only a cultural tradition in those areas and has nothing to do with Islamic teachings.

Answer 9

Who gives a flying phuck! I am in America and I love being an American in the LAND OF THE FREE & HOME OF THE BRAVE!

Answer 10

This is NOT true. This is nonsense. Some countries in Africa practice this but it has nothing to do with islam. It has to do with tribal customs. You cannot pin this one on islam, nice try though