'The unkindest cut of all'

At last!  Like an aching tooth that gives you a painful jab every so often, I have been forced to grit my teeth and mutter my obscenities under my breath as yet another report pops up in the media - but rarely on the BBC! - telling of yet another suspected case of female genital mutilation (FGM) taking place in this country amongst the immigrant, and usually Muslim, community.  Needless to say, legal action is never, or virtually never, taken against the perps!

However, today both The Telegraph and The Mail report that finally a Police investigation has resulted in court action and a woman, the mother of the child concerned, has been found guilty and been warned that she faces a prison sentence.  It is widely believed that FGM is regularly practiced amongst African and Muslim communities in Britain but the 'authorities', ie, social services, the NHS and the police are reluctant to take action.  That must end!  The practice of FGM, apart from being vile, is against the law and anyone who knows or suspects that it is happening and does nothing is, in my view, an accomplice to the crime and should be charged.

It must be ended!

 

 

Comments

[JK]

"... finally a Police investigation has resulted in court action.

https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2019/02/corruption-in-chicago-aint-we-got-fun.html

Move over Roger Stone er, at least a few jail cells anyway!

[Bob]

Small-time crooks can only dream of operating with Chicago celebrities:

"The investigation into North Carolina’s alleged election fraud moved closer to a possible February resolution when Gov. Roy Cooper Thursday named a new state elections board to oversee the probe of the last undecided congressional race in the nation."

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article225335305.html

[MarkC]

FGM is principally an African practice - according to the UNICEF, 98% of all Somali women aged 15 - 49 have been cut in some way; Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan are not far behind. It's a disgusting practice.

I do have one concern, though; if it's not alright for Muslim populations to cut girls, why is it alright for other religious or social groups to cut boys? Sure, if there's a diagnosable medical reason, no problem. But it's no different to FGM, done as a socio-religious act.

[Loz]

Hear, hear MarkC.

You beat me to it.

SoD

[Bob]

FGM has no health benefit and many possible dangerous and damaging complications. The ethics of male circumcision are more a judgement call and not always performed as a religious act. Medical science confirms it prevents disease to some extent, and some medical conditions require it. It is often painful for an extended time if done during adulthood.

In contrast to FGM, some women have the option of cosmetic surgery:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/vaginal-rejuvenation/labia-majoraplasty

[MarkC]

Thanks, Bob, I agree - but averring that cutting the foreskins off male infants and juveniles may be a benefit because "it prevents disease to some extent" is a little like suggesting the loss of a finger may be a benefit because "it prevents hangnails to some extent", or that removing teeth may be justified because "it prevents decay to some extent". I'm aware of the medical need scenario - my son had the procedure in his early teens. It fair wiped the smile off his face for a while.... poor kid.

Labiaplasty purchased for themselves by informed women, voluntarily, is fine. I'm sure that a man wishing to have a circumcision would find a surgeon with little difficulty. That's it's more painful in adulthood is part of the informed choice.

[Bob]

Thank you MarkC. Circumcision has the following benefits:

A decreased risk of urinary tract infections.

A reduced risk of some sexually transmitted diseases in men.

Protection against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.

Prevention of balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin).

Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location).

https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision#1-5

Your analogies are not exactly appropriate.

[MarkC]

Well, yes, Bob. I know - thanks!

Nevertheless, the routine cutting of juvenile males is an abomination, and I'm content with my analogies. But there we are; faith takes us along certain lines.

Tribal scarring, routine male circumcision, female genital mutilation, tattooing - all just different aspects of the same practice. The willingness of the human animal to deface itself in the name of fashion.

[Bob]

MarkC, I'd never suggest someone cut off his entire willy, or a finger, to prevent anything. It makes no sense. We do agree that unwilling surgical alteration is wrong. However, parents who elect to give their newborns an extra measure of protection have a reasonable right.

[MarkC]

Morning, Bob. I went and did some reading and found this (amongst other texts): Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis.

Interesting read, and interesting conclusion. I hadn't realised the extent of the protective nature of infantile circumcision. But I'd still draw the line to exclude the routine non-medical circumcision for religious or social reasons.

Damn you as a reasonable man, sir!

[Bob]

MarkC,

I return the appellation, sir, and agree about non-medical surgery.