Title: A religious oriented approach to addressing FGM / C among the Somali community of Wajir, Kenya.

POPLINE Document Number: 318978

Author(s):

Abdi MS

Source citation:

Washington, D.C., Population Council, Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 2007. 25 p. (USAID Cooperative Agreement No. HRN-A-00-98-00012-00)

Abstract:

The purpose of this approach is to educate the community on the harms of FGM/C, both religiously and medically, so that they question the rationale for its continuation. The first step in the approach is to de-link Islam and FGM/C. It is important for the community to understand the Shariah implications of this practice and be made aware of the fact that Islamic Shariah upholds human rights and dignity and that FGM/C violates these rights. As long as this practice is wrongly justified as Islamic, nothing else will make sense to the community, not even the many protocols and legislations that prohibit and outlaw the practice. These are man-made laws according to them and hence they cannot bind them. But are there any God-made laws that actually support this practice? We can answer this question by weighing the practice against Islamic teachings and prove that there is no sunnah 'cut' in Islam. Knowledge that the practice is traditional and is in conflict with Islamic principles is a sure convincingway that can help in questioning the practice. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Kenya
Somalia
Critique
Recommendations
Minority Groups
Community
Women in Development
Adolescents, Female
Islam
Female Genital Cutting
USAID
Women's Rights
Community Participation
Prevention and Control
Developing Countries
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Residence Characteristics
Population Distribution
Geographic Factors
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Adolescents
Youth
Age Factors
Religion
Sociocultural Factors
Harmful Traditional Practices
Traditional Health Practices
Culture
Government Agencies
Organizations
Political Factors
Human Rights
Organization and Administration
Diseases