Gender 
Three African imams to be prosecuted by Norwegian state for promoting FGM

afrol.com, 5 October - After a TV documentary on the private Norwegian TV2 yesterday documented the widespread practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among African immigrants, Norwegian Minister of Children and Family promised to prosecute one Somali and two Gambian imams promoting the prohibited practice. Very few cases of FGM have been prosecuted in Europe so far.

TV2 documented the widespread practice of FGM among immigrants from certain African countries, in particular Somalia and The Gambia. Much of the documentary followed the 20 years old Somali girl Kadra, hiding from her parents, which want to take her and her two child sisters to Djibouti to carry out the mutilation. Most FGM is executed on "vacations" in Africa, in particular in Djibouti. The type of FGM practices on these "vacations" normally is the most severe form, infibulation, which includes the total removal of the exterior female genitalia and stitching together. This leads to lifelong health problems and the mortality due to implications is high. 

Kadra, carrying a secret camera and microphone, went to three imams and one Muslim school councilor, asking advice on her situation and telling that she did not wish to be exposed to FGM. All urged her that it was important that she followed her parents to Djibouti and underwent the operation. All guaranteed her that it FGM was not dangerous. 

When she told one of the Gambian imams that the practice was prohibited in Norway, she was told that "as I am sure you'll understand, we Muslims must be careful with what we say here in Norway. It is not necessary to include too many in these matters. I myself, for instance, have two wives. That is also prohibited in Norway. When my wife visits me from The Gambia, I tell the Norwegian government that it is my sister or my aunt. The same discretion should go for what you are bringing up". 

Later, the imams and the councilor were visited by a TV team, asked what they knew about FGM in Norway. All stated that they knew nothing about such a practice on girls living in Norway. Personally, they were strongly against it, and they would never advice a girl to go through with FGM.

After the documentary, Gambian imam Ebrahim Sahidi participated in a direct TV debate with the Norwegian Minister of Children and Family, Ms. Bekkemellom-Nordheim, ex Minister of Justice, Dørum, the Director-General of Health Services and Kadra. After first trying to deny the allegations, Sahidi later publicly apologized to Kadra and the Norwegian people for giving Kadra the advice he had given.

The shocked representatives of the Norwegian Government admitted they were not aware of the quantity of the problem. Minister Bekkemellom-Orrheim, after hearing the imam defending and apologizing himself, promised that the four would be prosecuted. "I can guarantee their prosecution," she said. The penalty for assisting to FGM in Norway is from three to eight years imprisonment. 

Today, the Norwegian Public Prosecutor announced that he had already asked the police to investigate against the Muslim leaders and others promoting FGM or assisting to this illegal practice.

FGM is increasingly practiced in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA, primarily among immigrants from African and Asian countries. The practice is prohibited in all these countries, but very few cases have been prosecuted as it is done underground. 

Today, the number of girls and women who have been undergone female genital mutilation is estimated at between 100 and 140 million on a worldwide basis. It is estimated that each year, a further 2 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM, according to WHO.

In The Gambia, the Government has not passed legislation against FGM, and FGM is not considered a criminal act. In February, President Jammeh stated publicly that the Government would not ban FGM, and that FGM is a part of the country's culture. Reports place the number of women having been subjected to FGM in The Gambia at between 60 and 90 percent.

In Somalia and Djibouti, FGM is illegal, but the Governments have not enforced the respective laws and not prosecuted anyone for executing FGM. Some 98% of girls aging 7 years or older have undergone FGM (infibulation) in both Somalia and Djibouti. 

Source: afrol.com, TV2, Norwegian media and WHO

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