04.03.2014, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
A Unicef official has questioned why female genital mutilation (FGM) needs to be carried out in Muslim countries.
According to Haydar Nasser, FGM is not a requirement under the Islamic faith and is actually a practice that dates back to the pharaohs.
He also noted that the Koran states that human beings were created perfectly, which further renders the procedure unnecessary.
“If a human is in a perfect way, why do we practice something that alters the body?” Mr Nasser commented.
Charity Kinya Koronya, a child protection officer at Unicef, added that in some cultures, girls are considered impure if they have not undergone FGM.
“You are stitched and not opened up until the day of your marriage,” she stated.
The World Health Organization has described FGM as a violation of the human rights of girls and women and says it is most prevalent in Africa and the Middle East.