Female Genital Mutilation - Channel 4, Weds 6 Nov

[boxtops]

Following earlier threads on this topic (and prompted by the Burka thread at the moment), some of you may be interested to bookmark this programme, Channel 4, 1045pm on Wednesday (6th) - The Cruel Cut, documentary about a group of FGM survivors campaigning against the practice. They trailed it earlier today.

[FredPuli43]

I bet that the stories are horrific. We were never aware of this in the West until quite recently. Makes one wonder what else is to be discovered.

[Svejk]

The Times ran a campaign against FGM about 40 years ago. From what I remember it was confined to a few clinics in Harley St. I presumed, then, it wasn't entirely legal and was halted by the campaign. In those days it would have been young girls flown in from abroad for 'treatment'. Never heard much about British Muslims. Obviously they existed but they kept a low profile and quietly got on integrating with the rest of us. My perception, of course,and the Welsh Valleys weren't exactly Brick Lane, as it were.

[mushroom25]

it doesn't matter what campaigns are waged against this, nothing will change as long as the government refuses to enforce its own laws on the subject due to cultural sensitivities.

[RATTER15]

I will whach that, thanks Boxy. One of the most vile and barbaric practices known to the civilized world, I was actually involved in a campaign against it in the early 1980s! the parents that permit this to be undertaken should definitely be imprisoned.

[RATTER15]

*watch

[Sqad]

No I will not be watching it.
This is a vile and cruel procedure, but what do you think that you will learn from the documentary that you do not already know?

[andy-hughes]

I won't be watching it.

I remember seeing film of a five-year-old being mutilated and at that time, my youngest daughter was five herself. She is twenty-four now, but that image is burned into my memory, and I have no wish to add to it at all.

[anotheoldgit]

It is a wonder that it has not been banned on the grounds that it may inflame racial and religious feelings.

[naomi24]

I shan’t be watching either – it makes me sick - but I’m just waiting for some religious apologist to tell me it’s a cultural practice that only affects a few so that’s alright then!

[andy-hughes]

naomi - that may be an argument from the practicing perspective, but as I am sure you will agree, any one child mutilated in this way is one child too many - numbers are not the issue here!

[naomi24]

Andy, no need for the final exclamation mark. My point exactly.

[johnny37]

Surely it is already illegal. Must be ABH, GBH or similar if done for non-medical reasons even if the surgeon is unqualified, and everyone else involved is aiding and abetting. The same should apply to male circumcision but for some reason that is acceptable.

[hc4361]

johnny, there is NO comparison between male circumcision and FGM.

AOG, it can't be opposed on racial or religious grounds because not all Muslims practice this and the practice is multi racial.

FGM has been a criminal offence in the UK for 28 years

[andy-hughes]

johhny37 - "The same should apply to male circumcision but for some reason that is acceptable."

It is acceptable in part because there are valid medical reasons for the practice.

[naomi24]

//It is acceptable in part because there are valid medical reasons for the practice.//

There are only valid medical reasons for it when valid medical reasons exist. Imposing it upon all Jewish and Muslim boy babies is accepted because it’s a religious requirement – so for no good reason at all really.

[hc4361]

Male circumcision doesn't interfere with a man's enjoyment of sex, though.
Many men who have had it done later in life say it improves it.

[johnny37]

not trying to make a comparison. just that both are offences agains the person. so why does it need new legislation? Its already illegal so why do so may people get away with it? A figure of 10000 (per year?) was mentioned of the radio this morning, while police forces are trying to cut numbers of pc's.

[naomi24]

johnny37, people get away with it because it isn't reported.

[hc4361]

johnny, first of all it is very difficult to spot if a child or woman has had FGM. Unless a doctor or nurse has a reason to look in that area they would not know.
A child is unlikely to make a complaint.
If it is discovered it is reported but getting evidence against the person who did it is nigh on impossible.
Parents send child abroad for a holiday with grandparents and 'came home like that' is a common excuse. Parents claim they did not know it was going to happen and the UK has no jurisdiction if the offence is committed abroad.
It does happen in the UK but the people who know who did it aren't going to name names, they will claim it happened abroad without their consent.

[DTCwordfan]

Having spent a lot of time in the M-East and East Africa, this is practised a lot more than is realised over and it extends into the Far East - and not necessarily a Muslim practice....

Apart from submission and 'ownership' it extends to the belief that a woman should only orgasm when her partner (male) penetrates her.

Brutal and cruel, especially when it involves clitorectomy or closure -and then yet various Far Eastern cultures have the concept of three sexes, the Indian Hijra for instance...... Funny world but the sooner global society eliminates this one, the better - horrific to think about the extent it is being practised here in the UK now.