Gambian Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Legalize Female Genital Mutilation
An independent lawmaker in Gambia has introduced a bill to legalize female genital mutilation (FGM).
During Yahya Jammeh's presidency in 2015, the predominantly Muslim nation made the practice illegal. According to him, it is not required in Islam.
While prominent Muslim clerics have been calling for the ban's removal, advocates for women's rights have pledged to fight to keep it in place.
In 2016, the 22-year dictatorial tenure of Mr Jammeh came to a close.
The United Nations reports that over 75% of Gambian females between the ages of 15 and 49 have had female genital mutilation.
After the delicate clitoris is removed, the most extreme version of the procedure involves cutting and stitching the woman's genitalia shut.
Protests were held by followers of controversial Muslim preacher Abdoulie Fatty just before Monday's introduction of the bill in parliament.
They were chanting "Female circumcision is my religious belief, Gambia is not for sale."
Three ladies were found guilty of FGM on young girls last year, and the cleric helped pay their fines.
The country's leading Muslim cleric body, The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, demanded the ban's repeal at the time.
Even among Muslims, opinions vary on the matter; for example, prominent Egyptian scholars are against the practice.
"Uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values" were the stated goals of the bill's sponsor, Gambian politician Almammeh Gibba, according to the privately owned Point newspaper
When carried out correctly, he insisted, the procedure could not be called mutilation.
Repealing the ban would be a regression, according to Anna Njie, chairwoman of The Gambia's Female Lawyers Association.
"We have no authority to tell the National Assembly what to do, but we have rights reserved in the constitution to take legal action when certain fundamental rights are violated," she was quoted by the local Standard newspaper as saying.
No decision on support for the measure has been made yet, according to Billay Tunkara, leader of the majority party in parliament.
"We are taking our time because it is a very sensitive area that doesn't only have to do with religion or cultural aspect but also human rights and health issues," he said.