The United Nations published a report on Friday revealing the frequency of female genital mutilation worldwide. It has brought focus to the tradition within the Dawoodi Bohra community, a Muslim subgroup residing in India.

India was not included in the list of 31 countries released by UNICEF on Friday. However, the prevalence of FGM in India, although relatively low compared to its population and previously hidden, is now being disclosed.

Reworded: The practice of the ritual is primarily observed by the Dawoodi Bohras, a subsect of Shia Islam known as Ismailis, and has an estimated global following of 1-2 million. According to recent surveys, approximately 80% of Bohra girls undergo female genital mutilation as a religious tradition.

Aarefa Johari, a Dawoodi Bohra activist and co-founder of Sahiyo, a group advocating against FGM, stated that despite being a minority, our impact is still powerful. She stresses the importance of standing up against unjust and harmful practices on moral grounds, rather than basing it on the number of people affected.

The majority of Dawoodi Bohras are wealthy and hold political sway. They primarily reside in the Indian state of Gujarat, with smaller but thriving communities found in Pakistan, Yemen, East Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and North America.

”

The World Health Organization categorizes FGM, or female genital cutting, as the removal of or damage to the external female genitalia for nonmedical purposes. This practice has no health advantages and is considered a violation of the human rights of females by the organization.

The UNICEF report, which was published on International Women’s Day, reveals that there are currently over 230 million girls and women who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). This is a significant increase of 30 million from data released eight years ago. The majority of cases, with over 144 million, are found in Africa, followed by Asia with over 80 million, and the Middle East with 6 million.

According to international human rights lawyer Shelby Quast, India should have definitely been included in the UNICEF report.

She mentioned that the report only reveals a small fraction of the larger issue, as FGM is widespread in 92 countries.

In order to eliminate FGM by 2030, we must consider its prevalence in all countries, as stated by Quast in an interview.

The practice of the Dawoodi Bohra community includes removing a section of the clitoral hood. The Bohras reject the idea that this is a form of genital mutilation, instead calling it khatna or female circumcision, and insist it is a safe procedure. While not supported by the majority of Muslim scholars, the Dawoodi Bohras view it as a religious obligation.

In the past, the tradition was largely unknown beyond a tight-knit group. The problem gained attention following a 2011 internet movement initiated by survivors. Many others shared their distressing tales of suffering.

Legal proceedings in both Australia and the United States brought attention to its prevalence within diaspora societies.

Three members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Australia received a 15-month prison sentence in 2016 for breaking the national law against female genital mutilation (FGM).

In 2017, four members of the community in the U.S., including two doctors, were charged with performing FGM on at least six minor girls. A federal judge later dismissed the charges as unconstitutional, but the case put the spotlight on the Dawoodi Bohra community’s practice of FGM.

Encouraged by the attention, local leaders and individuals fighting for human rights quickly took action to bring attention to the issue.

Johari’s team discovered that FGM was present in certain small communities in the state of Kerala in India.

Johari stated that female genital mutilation has been historically linked to Africa, but the recognition of this practice occurring in India and other Asian societies reveals it to be a worldwide issue.

Johari, who is a survivor herself, expressed her belief that this has significant implications for the worldwide effort to put an end to it.

Johari, like many other Dawoodi Bohra girls, underwent female genital cutting at the age of 7. The ritual can have long-lasting effects, even into adulthood. Fortunately, Johari did not experience any complications from the procedure.

Johari, who currently resides in Mumbai, explained through email that what truly affected her later in life was the realization and understanding of the impact of what had been done to her. She expressed how being circumcised as a young child left her unaware of her original anatomy and the lasting effects it would have on her sexual experiences.

Johari stated that those who support [FGM] within the community often argue that our version of the practice, which they deem as “mild”, has no impact on sexual experiences. Some have even gone as far as claiming that it can increase sexual pleasure. However, none of these supporters have personal experience to back up their claims, which leaves me feeling frustrated, powerless, and enraged.

The discord within the community has caused division. Despite calls for a ban, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the group, has refused to comply.

During a religious sermon in Mumbai in 2016, he stated that no matter what others may say, we must remain strong and resolute. He believed that it was necessary to follow through on our actions.

During this time, there has been uncertainty among Indian government officials regarding the matter of FGM. Additionally, the effort to make FGM a criminal offense has come to a standstill in India’s Supreme Court, as noted by Lakshmi Anantnarayan, a human rights activist and researcher.

At first, certain officials supported a ban, but then they changed their stance and refused to acknowledge the existence of FGM, according to Anantnarayan.

A request submitted to India’s highest court in 2017 to prohibit FGM has faced heavy opposition from the influential Bohra community.

The petition refers to FGM as a discriminatory act that violates the rights of women and girls. However, leaders of the Bohra community, along with a group of Bohra women, argue that it is a “necessary” religious ritual that is safeguarded by the Indian Constitution.

The highest court has assigned two groups to review the legality of female genital cutting. A verdict on the matter has yet to be announced.

According to Anantnarayan via email, the postponement is a clear indication that the protection of girls from FGM in India is not a priority for legal authorities, policymakers, and law enforcement. He states that like many other forms of violence against women in India, FGM/C is also being practiced without consequences, as the country ignores the challenges faced by women and girls.

The request for comment made to the Indian Embassy in Washington received no response.

There are many other countries in Asia besides India that do not have a ban on FGM. At least 10 countries in the continent still practice this ritual without any legal restrictions.

Despite facing resistance from the influential Bohra community, several activists do not believe that a ban is a feasible solution. Rather, they focus on promoting a change in societal beliefs as a potential solution.

Mariya Taher, another co-founder of Sahiyo and herself a survivor, noted that the same survey that revealed an 80% prevalence rate of FGM among the Bohras also found that 81% opposed continuing the tradition.

In an interview, she stated that the belief was that it was crucial to persist.

According to her, she gained knowledge from conversations with other Dawoodi Bohras in the United States that certain mosque leaders are secretly advising mothers to protect their daughters, in contrast to the group’s public position.

”

She expressed that making a difference in society can be a lengthy process, but she finds encouragement in the fact that as the matter gains more recognition, people’s perspectives towards it are evolving.

Source: voanews.com