Mumbai: The practice of female genital cutting, which has been associated with the Dawoodi Bohra community in India, is likely being practised by other Muslim sects as well. An investigation carried out by Sahiyo, a collective working to end the practice, has revealed that it was being done in one part of Kerala.
“During an investigation in February, Sahiyo found a medical clinic in Kozhikode, where two doctors admitted that they perform the procedure of sunnath or circumcision on both boys and girls. They claimed that women from several local Muslim sects are increasingly coming to their clinic to have sunnath performed on themselves, their daughters and even their daughters-in-law,” said the report.
According to the report, the doctors said that in the female circumcision ritual, they cut the prepuce of the clitoris, also known as the clitoral hood, because it is allegedly “good for married life”.
The World Health Organisation clearly says that there is no medical benefit of the practice of genital cutting. While a large number of countries have banned the practice, India does not have a law on the same. Several organisations are demanding that the practice be outlawed in India as wel.
