Members of Sri Lanka's Muslim communities on Wednesday condemned a government decision to ban female genital cutting as an "affront" that infringed upon their religious rights.
The Centre for Islamic Studies in Sri Lanka criticised the government after the health ministry denounced female genital mutilation (FGM) and prohibited doctors from any involvement in the tradition, known as "khatna."
"The (ban) ... not only infringes on our religious rights, but also threatens to drive the procedure underground," Asiff Hussein, a senior official with the Centre for Islamic Studies, said in a statement.
The ban was announced in May. Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Supporters say khatna only involves a harmless nick to the clitoral hood and cannot be compared to other forms of FGM in parts of Africa, which can involve removing external genitalia and sewing up the vagina.
They consider it an important religious duty and say it improves hygiene, but some women say they have suffered irreversible damage. [Dhaka Tribune] Read more
