Hamza Zafar (Name has been changed)

FGM is a serious problem in Sri Lanka. Almost all Sri Lankan Muslim women are circumcised. Both Sri Lankan Moors and Malays are of the Shafi Mazhab which regards FGM as compulsory. They account for 98 percent of the local population. The Bohras who follow an Indian leader called Syedna also practice it very strictly. Local Bohras number about 10,000 people.

The All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU) which is the Supreme Council of Muslims of Sri Lanka have declared it obligatory in a Fatwa in Tamil பெண்களுக்கு கத்னா செய்தல் (Pengalukku Khatna Seydal) and are very strict about it. I also hear the Bohra leader Syedna has said it must be done. Local Bohras are loyal followers of Syedna.

Local Muslim girls are circumcised on the 40^th day or a little later. Bohra girls are cut at 7-10 years of age.

The amount of genital cutting differs from child to child. The operator is a woman called Ostha-maami. Usually they nick the clitoris for a little blood to come and leave it at that. Educated families get it done by lady doctors who cut off part of the foreskin of the clitoris. But serious mutilation also takes place and has been reported to us.

I give below some interviews from the ladies of our community.

Balqis Maimoona (40 years)

Muslim girls must be circumcised or they will grow up to be loose. I have 2 daughters and got them circumcised when they were babies. The area Ostha woman came and did it. She took a large needle and pricked the clitoris till blood came. She then wiped it and put some grey powder. I think it was ash. She told me the blood has to come out or the girls clitoris will be big, and she will always touch there and grow up to be a loose woman. I don’t regret it. All our girls must be circumcised. See Western ladies, see princess Diana, how many men she had affairs with. Our women are much more decent. That is because we take the blood out and make it small. Then they can control themselves.

Fathima Nilufa (33 years) Name Changed:

I did not know of this till my daughter was born. My mother said she must be sunnat. I told her only boys get sunnat. She said no, girls also. Then she got down the lady doctor and she came and cut. My baby cried a lot. She put some kind of white powder on the wound and said it will heal. Later I noticed baby’s clitoris was pink and swollen. I got angry and asked doctor what she did. She said she removed the skin over it like she did for the small boys. She said nothing to worry. It healed a little later. She is ok now, but I am still angry because my daughter was hurt. I don’t know why they do it. My mother said it must be done for Muslim people.

Sameena Begum (29 years) Name Changed:

I was married to an Aalim (religious scholar). A few days after my wedding night, he said he wanted to see my private part before having sex. Then he got angry and said I was not circumcised. He even shouted at my mother. My mother kept saying she had got me circumcised as a baby, but he did not listen. He brought an old Ostha-Maami in a taxi and ordered her to cut me. My husband held one leg and forced my mother to hold the other leg while the Osthamaami cut me. My mother was crying and told me not to scream as the neighbours could hear. It was very painful. I wish my mother had got it done properly when I was a baby.