Why are women circumcised? These operations are medically unnecessary, agonisingly painful and extremely
dangerous. Some girls die from shock and loss of blood. Others develop
psychiatric problems from the trauma. Many have chronic infections lasting a
lifetime and there are numerous troubles with childbirth, intercourse and
menstruation.
Most of the estimated 70 million circumcised women and girls live in certain parts of
Africa and the Middle East. There the practice thrives for a variety of social
reasons.
While Pakistan fights global terrorism alongside the United States and its allies, the country’s women are engaged in their own war against the terror of escalating ‘honour’ killings.
The Shirkat Gah report on `honour killings' is about Pakistan. But there are many parallels in India too. It, perhaps, implies that we need to eliminate the murders, and not the women.
Asma Khader is Coordinator of Sisterhood Is Global Institute/Jordan (SIGI/J) and Counsel on violence against women to the Permanent Arab Court. She is a lawyer, teacher, author, and leading advocate to outlaw honour killings.
Ainsi que nous l'avons indiqué dans notre dernière mise à jour du 30 août, les avocats d'Amina Lawal ont immédiatement fait appel de la décision du 19 août qui la condamne à mort par lapidation.
