According to the World Health Organization, female genital mutilation (FGM) "comprises of all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons." For the most part, these horrific forced surgeries are carried out by community elders, and often using frightening equipment such as razor blades, scissors, scalpels, and knives — sometimes with no anesthetic or sterilization of the tools.
The practice has no health benefit whatsoever and is widely condemned by medical practitioners. It is considered a violation of human rights of women and girls.
Malaysia is an economic giant, their capital of Kuala Lumpur is a high tech wonderland but behind the veneer of modernity, the barbaric practice of FGM is still accepted and the government has yet to do anything to stop it. In fact, the practice, despite being more maligned than ever around the world, may be becoming more acceptable within Malaysia.
According to one article. In 2009 Malaysia's National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs issued a fatwa ruling that FGM is obligatory for Muslims. Nothing was done to refute it.
FGM is now so prevalent in the Southeast Asian country that, according to a 2012 survey, more than 93 percent of Muslim Malaysian women had the procedure forced upon them.
This is unacceptable. All religions should be respected but not if a practice goes against the fundamental freedoms of a human being it should not be allowed. Women and girls have the right to a full life and that cannot happen if FGM is to continue.
Tell Malaysia that their government has a responsibility to protect the rights of their women and girls. Sign the petition and ask them to ban FGM.
