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'''Female genital mutilation''' (FGM), sometimes referred to euphemistically as "female circumcision", refers to various forms of permanent and harmful operations performed on girls or women in some parts of the non-Christian world.

'''Female genital mutilation''' (FGM), sometimes referred to euphemistically as "female circumcision", refers to various forms of permanent and harmful operations performed on girls or women in some parts of Africa and the Middle East. Although not exclusively [[Islamic]] — Christians, Jews, and animists have been known to practice it – FGM is primarily an Islamic practice.<ref>

*Khan, Aysha (April 27, 2017). [http://religionnews.com/2017/04/27/the-splainer-what-is-female-genital-mutilation-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-islam/ The ’Splainer: What is female genital mutilation, and what does it have to do with Islam?]. ''Religion News Service''. Retrieved June 14, 2017.</ref>

Female genital mutilation is extremely rare in the West, but is widely practised in parts of [[Asia]], the [[Middle East]], and East [[Africa]], especially where traditionalist religion predominates.   

Female genital mutilation is extremely rare in the West but is widely practiced in parts of [[Asia]], the [[Middle East]], and East [[Africa]], especially but not exclusively where Islam predominates.   

* ...  practitioners look on it as an integral part of their cultural and ethnic identity, and some perceive it as a religious obligation [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2313097.html Female Circumcision: Rite of Passage Or Violation of Rights?] - Guttmacher Institute

* ...  practitioners look on it as an integral part of their cultural and ethnic identity, and some perceive it as a religious obligation [http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/2313097.html Female Circumcision: Rite of Passage Or Violation of Rights?] - Guttmacher Institute

The mutilation is usually carried out when the girl is prepubescent,<ref>[http://www.path.org/files/FGM-The-Facts.htm Female Genital Mutilation – The Wallace Global Fund]</ref> often forcibly and against her wishes.  It can cause many potential genito-urinary complications, including infection, urinary incontinence, and increased risk of problems during future childbirth.

The mutilation is usually carried out when the girl is prepubescent,<ref>[http://www.path.org/files/FGM-The-Facts.htm Female Genital Mutilation – The Wallace Global Fund]</ref> often forcibly and against her wishes.  It can cause many potential genito-urinary complications, including infection, urinary incontinence, and increased risk of problems during future childbirth.

==Legislation==

==Legislation==

In the United States, Congress outlawed the practice in 1996 and further tightened the law in 2013.  Both performing the operation in the US and transporting a child to a foreign country to get the operation are felonies subject to 5 years imprisonment.<ref>[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/116 18 U.S.C. §118]</ref>  However, no federal cases were brought against doctors until 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/three-indicted-female-genital-mutilation|title=Three Indicted for Female Genital Mutilation|date= April 26, 2017|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}</ref>  However, many states have failed to also adopt laws to cover situations where the child does not cross a state line to get the operation.

In the United States, Congress outlawed the practice in 1996 and further tightened the law in 2013.  Both performing the operation in the US and transporting a child to a foreign country to get the operation are felonies subject to 5 years imprisonment.<ref>[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/116 18 U.S.C. §118]</ref>  However, no federal cases were brought against doctors until 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/three-indicted-female-genital-mutilation|title=Three Indicted for Female Genital Mutilation|date= April 26, 2017|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}</ref>  However, many states have failed to also adopt laws to cover situations where the child does not cross a state line to get the operation.

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

*World Health Organisation on [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/ Female Genital Mutilation]

*World Health Organisation on [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/ Female Genital Mutilation]

[[Category:Culture]][[Category:Barbaric Practices]]

 

[[Category:Islam]]

[[Category:Barbaric Practices]]