In Egypt, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a common practice against girls, with Egypt’s new President Morsi calling it a “private issue” that he will not actively combat.

In Egypt, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a common practice against girls. Egypt’s new President Morsi has said he will not actively combat the practice.

“It’s difficult to end, because it’s rooted in a toxic mix of culture and religion,” says Mona Eltahawy, a feminist writer. “As much as many Muslims deny it has anything to do with Islam, you’ll find many clerics advocating it. When parliament criminalised it in 2007, some of the fiercest opponents of the law were from the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8185dd5c-c5c0-11e1-a5d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1zz4E51bW