A battle over female circumcision

Islamists and conservative clerics are fighting proposed legislation in the Egyptian parliament that would criminalize female circumcision and raise the minimum age of when a girl can marry. The Islamists view the bill as an affront to Sharia law.

Opponents say the new restrictions are an attempt by the government to impose a Western agenda on an Islamic society. Some clerics, in opposing the bill, state that Islamic Sharia law condones female circumcision and imposes no minimum age of marriage.

Islamic scholars have been divided over the religious validity of female circumcision. One camp holds that Islam opposes it, while the other argues that this procedure is necessary to tame a woman’s sexual desires and ensure decency.

Female circumcision remains a widespread practice in Egypt, despite having been illegal for years. About 70% of Egyptian girls are believed to be victims of the practice.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/03/egypt-a-battle.html

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am and is filed under Culture, Modern Egypt. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.