An organisation representing women of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community today defended the practice of female circumcision prevalent in the community saying it does not amount to female genital mutilation (FGM), which needs to be banned.
The organisation issued a statement today in the wake of Court of Criminal Appeal in New South Wales in Australia overturning the conviction of three people accused of FGM. The court ruled that the traditional Dawoodi Bohra practice of 'khafz' (female circumcision) does not amount to FGM.
Dawoodi Bohra community is a Shia sub-sect of traders hailing predominantly from Gujarat and spread across the world.
The group, Dawoodi Bohra Women's Association For Religious Freedom (DBWRF), said that khafz was a harmless religious ritual that was being followed for centuries, FGM was unwarranted and it should be abolished.
In a statement issued today, secretary and spokesperson of DBWRF, Samina Kanchwala, said, "Khafz is a completely harmless religious ritual followed for centuries and this historic judgement will be welcomed by Dawoodi Bohras around the world, who are struggling to inform public opinion that is intent on denying women their right to practise their religious observance."
Khafz is a very small procedure and not female genital mutilation, Kanchwala said adding, "But we consider FGM as totally unwarranted and want the end of it."
Welcoming the Australian court's judgement, she said, "Appeals bench ruled the trial judge was wrong to direct that Dawoodi Bohras' practice of khafz was not ritualised or that it involved damaging the clitoris."
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