A leading Muslim scholar based in Ireland has said that a form of female genital mutilation should be “reasonably practised” and should not be illegal.
Ali Selim, a spokesman for the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, said in an interview with a newspaper for doctors that “female circumcision” was provided for in Islam because of a saying by the Prophet Muhammad.
It has been illegal since 2012 to perform FGM in Ireland or to take a girl outside the country to have it done.
Dr Selim was against the ban being introduced. He said that the centre was against FGM but not against “female circumcision”. There is no distinction between the terms in Irish law. [The Times (£)] Read more
