Muslim anger at ‘barbaric’ genital mutilation

Muslim and community leaders yesterday slammed the “barbaric” act of female genital mutilation, saying it has no place in any society.

As police appealed for public help in exposing the practice after the arrests of four people, including a sheik, lawyer Wajiha Ahmed said female genital mutilation had nothing to do with the Muslim faith.

“The Islam that I am born under does not condone violence against women and does certainly not condone any form of FGM,” Ms Ahmed, 36, said yesterday.

“Most Muslims I know are offended by any such claims that FGM would be considered an Islamic act.”

Police have claimed that Sheik Shabbir Mohammedbhai Vaziri, who is accused of involvement in the “genital circumcision” of sisters aged 6 and 7, told his Muslim community in Auburn to lie about its widespread practice.

Community leader Jamal Rifi said a lot of work had been done to educate religious leaders to “condemn such a barbaric act”.

“I was disturbed to learn that this is still taking place in NSW after all the work we have done,” Dr Rifi said.

“I know for a fact that a lot of girls are suffering because of this and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.”

The ABC yesterday backed radio presenter Linda Mottram, who asked the vice-president of Muslims Australia, Ikebal Patel, if there should be a “controlled version of FGM available through hospitals, carefully policed and done under strict medical conditions, in order to cater for those communities that insist that this is important”.

Mr Patel said he did not share that view and believed the practice was “abhorrent”.

An ABC spokesperson said: “Ms Mottram was doing what any good journalist would do, asking questions of the interviewee in order to reveal his opinion about the topic.”

See more on this Topic