Press Release Re: Outrage over Michigan FGM Ruling (nov 2018)
RAHMA is outraged over the recent ruling by a Michigan judge declaring that the federal law prohibiting FGM/C is unconstitutional. As the nation’s first FGM/C case, it involved two licensed physicians who practiced and aided in cutting nine young girls. In his ruling, Judge Bernard Friedman wrote that FGM is a local issue and the federal government cannot legislate in such matters. Nearly all criminal charges were dropped against the defendants.
Today, we stand with survivors of FGM/C and acknowledge their pain and stories. FGM/C is a universally recognized human rights abuse, but it is still practiced throughout the United States. In fact, more than half a million women and girls living in the U.S are at risk of undergoing FGM/C. How will this ruling prevent abusers from practicing FGM/C without any legal repercussions? How are we protecting these vulnerable girls? How are we protecting the survivors, who endured and still endure the trauma from their horrific experiences and its long-lasting effects?
FGM/C has no religious basis in Islam. Many Muslim leaders from around the world have denounced the practice. Here in the United States, leaders issued a joint statement denouncing FGM/C. Imam Mohamad Magid, a nationally renowned faith leader in Northern Virginia, has been a strong advocate against FGM/C. Imam Magid believes that if a congregation hears an Imam condemning FGM/C, it will empower women and men to stand against this practice.
We at RAHMA will continue to address FGM/C through advocacy, education, and empowerment. We invite you to join our mission. Connect with us on social media, join our mailing list, and become an advocate against FGM/C.
2020 - Essence Magazine
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