Changes

'''Female genital mutilation''' (FGM), sometimes referred to euphemistically as "female circumcision", refers to various forms of permanent and harmful operations performed on the private parts of girls or women. Although not exclusively [[Islam]]ic — some Christians, Jews, and animists have also been known to practice it — FGM is primarily an Islamic practice.<ref>Munro, Neil (April 13, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/13/feds-promise-protect-half-million-genital-mutilation/ Feds Promise to Protect Half a Million American Girls from Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 14, 2017.</ref><ref>Roys, Julie (May 8, 2017). [http://thefederalist.com/2017/05/08/fear-islam-not-enable-female-genital-mutilation-inside-united-states/ Fear Of Islam Should Not Enable Female Genital Mutilation Inside The United States]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved June 14, 2017.</ref><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''' (FGM), sometimes referred to euphemistically as "female circumcision", refers to various forms of permanent and harmful operations performed on the private parts of girls or women. Although not exclusively [[Islam]]ic — some Christians, Jews, and animists have also been known to practice it — FGM is primarily an Islamic practice.<ref>Munro, Neil (April 13, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/13/feds-promise-protect-half-million-genital-mutilation/ Feds Promise to Protect Half a Million American Girls from Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 14, 2017.</ref><ref>Roys, Julie (May 8, 2017). [https://thefederalist.com/2017/05/08/fear-islam-not-enable-female-genital-mutilation-inside-united-states/ Fear Of Islam Should Not Enable Female Genital Mutilation Inside The United States]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved June 14, 2017.</ref><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 relatively 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. However, it is growing in Western countries due to Muslim immigration.<ref name="SwissFGM">Tomlinson, Chris (February 24, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/24/swiss-islamic-council-justifies-female-genital-mutilation/ Swiss Islamic Council Justifies Female Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 24, 2018.</ref> The Swiss Islamic Council has defended FGM even though [[Switzerland]] bans the practice.<ref name="SwissFGM"/> Between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, an average of one FGM case every two hours occurred in England.<ref>Deacon, Liam (July 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/07/08/england-new-female-genital-mutilation-case-every-two-hours-experts-demand-action/ England: New Female Genital Mutilation Case Every Two Hours, Experts Demand Action]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 8, 2018.</ref>

Female genital mutilation is relatively 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. However, it is growing in Western countries due to Muslim immigration.<ref name="SwissFGM">Tomlinson, Chris (February 24, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/02/24/swiss-islamic-council-justifies-female-genital-mutilation/ Swiss Islamic Council Justifies Female Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 24, 2018.</ref> The Swiss Islamic Council has defended FGM even though [[Switzerland]] bans the practice.<ref name="SwissFGM"/> Between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, an average of one FGM case every two hours occurred in England.<ref>Deacon, Liam (July 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/07/08/england-new-female-genital-mutilation-case-every-two-hours-experts-demand-action/ England: New Female Genital Mutilation Case Every Two Hours, Experts Demand Action]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 8, 2018.</ref>

<blockquote>...  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</blockquote>

<blockquote>...  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</blockquote>

*{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/06/08/michigan-house-passes-female-genital-mutilation-legislation/382356001/|title=Michigan House passes female genital mutilation legislation|date=June 8, 2017 |accessdate=June 14, 2017|work=Detroit Free Press}}

*{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/06/08/michigan-house-passes-female-genital-mutilation-legislation/382356001/|title=Michigan House passes female genital mutilation legislation|date=June 8, 2017 |accessdate=June 14, 2017|work=Detroit Free Press}}

*{{cite news|url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/04/24/white-house-wont-comment-on-first-female-genital-mutilation-case-in-us-n2317523|title=White House Has No Comment on First Female Genital Mutilation Case in U.S. |date=April 24, 2017|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}

*{{cite news|url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/04/24/white-house-wont-comment-on-first-female-genital-mutilation-case-in-us-n2317523|title=White House Has No Comment on First Female Genital Mutilation Case in U.S. |date=April 24, 2017|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}

*Munro, Neil (April 19, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/18/media-ignores-imported-female-genital-mutilation/ Establishment Media Hides Trump’s New Policy to Stop ‘Genital Mutilation’ of American Girls]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 19, 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.

*Munro, Neil (April 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/18/media-ignores-imported-female-genital-mutilation/ Establishment Media Hides Trump’s New Policy to Stop ‘Genital Mutilation’ of American Girls]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 19, 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.

====U.S. states====

====U.S. states====

On June 9, 2017, [[Texas]] Governor [[Greg Abbott]] signed a bill into law expanding Texas's ban on FGM.<ref>Hope, Merrill (June 14, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/14/texas-expands-ban-female-genital-mutilation/ Texas Expands Ban on Female Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 15, 2017.</ref> On July 11, 2017, [[Michigan]] Governor [[Rick Snyder]] signed a bill into law making FGM a felony.<ref>Rodriguez, Katherine (July 12, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/12/michigan-gov-rick-snyder-signs-law-making-female-genital-mutilation-felony/ Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Signs Law Making Female Genital Mutilation a Felony]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>

On June 9, 2017, [[Texas]] Governor [[Greg Abbott]] signed a bill into law expanding Texas's ban on FGM.<ref>Hope, Merrill (June 14, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2017/06/14/texas-expands-ban-female-genital-mutilation/ Texas Expands Ban on Female Genital Mutilation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 15, 2017.</ref> On July 11, 2017, [[Michigan]] Governor [[Rick Snyder]] signed a bill into law making FGM a felony.<ref>Rodriguez, Katherine (July 12, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/12/michigan-gov-rick-snyder-signs-law-making-female-genital-mutilation-felony/ Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Signs Law Making Female Genital Mutilation a Felony]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>

===Other countries===

===Other countries===