In Chapter 17 of Genesis, God is reported to have ordered Abraham, then 99 years old, to circumcise himself and all the males of his tribe and their slaves as a sign of alliance between God and the descendants of Abraham. The "uncircumcised shall be cut off" as violating this alliance. In the Bible, "uncircumcised is the synonym of "impure," and the uncircumcised were forbidden to enter Jerusalem (Uru-Salim; city of peace)(Isaiah 52:1 and Hezekiah 44:9).
We find a shifting in the conception of the Bible. Circumcision of the skin gradually is replaced by the circumcision of the heart (De 10;16, 30;6, Gal 5;6 etc.) This conception prevailed in the debates opposing Pagans and Jews converted to Christianity.
The Koran does not mention male circumcision. Furthermore, the philosophy of the Koran considers the creation of God as perfect (32:7). The Koran forbids slitting the ears of animals as defacing the fair nature created by God (4:119). Nevertheless, male circumcision was adopted by the new Islamic community on the pretext that Abraham was circumcised. Mohammed is also reported to have ordered it. But this is contested and some classical authors say that he never searched under the clothes of those converted to Islam to verify if they were circumcised or not. For this reason, most probably, male circumcision was introduced by Jews converted to Islam.
The Koran does not mention female circumcision, but Classical authors rely again on contested sayings of Mohammed, who is reported to have praised it. They add that female circumcision became a norm among women after Sarah circumcised Hagar, who became pregnant, out of jealously. This is a way to attach female circumcision to the foremother, Hagar, as male circumcision was attached to the forefather, Abraham.
Today, Muslims practice male circumcision without contesting it. But they easily begin doubting it with mention of Koranic arguments. On the other hand, female circumcision is contested in many Muslim circles, although it continues to rage in countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Somalia and other Muslim countries. With female genital mutilation, laymen oppose religious leaders, and an intensification of this opposition can in the end bring male circumcision into the debate as neither custom is mentioned in the Koran and both are contrary to its philosophy. For this reason, it is important to link male and female circumcision. We have also to have an eye on mixed marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims, as their children are automatically circumcised, being Muslims by law.
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JEHOVAH, HIS COUSIN, ALLAH, AND SEXUAL MUTILATIONS by Sami Aldeeb
Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Sexual Mutilations,
University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, August 9-11, 1996.The complete paper is published in Sexual Mutilations: A Human Tragedy, New York: Plenum Press, 1997 (ISBN 0-306-45589-7).
For a more extensive treatment of this subject, see: To Mutilate in the Name of Jehovah or Allah.
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Cameroon;
Female genital mutilation is practiced in the South West Province in the Ejagham tribe, the Haoussas, Arapshouas in the northern part of the country. Female genital mutilation is a harmful traditional practice which involves the total or the partial removal of the female genitals. These include the clitoris, the large lips (Libia minora) or the little lips or the (Libia minora). There are four types of female genital mutilations: the first one is circumcision which is the removal of the tip of the clitoris, the second the removal of the clitoris, the third is the removal the clitoris, the small lips and big lips. There is also infibulations where everything is removed and then the female genitals are stitched and only a small hole for blood and urine to pass. The practice is also a source of income for some people. Ahladji Sallaou said children are circumcised one week after birth at CFA 15000. He said he can do seven circumcision per week. He however regretted three years after they were asked to stop the practice promising them some compensation, they have not received any assistance. According to Mama Sarah, one of the authors of female genital mutilation, the practice is not only an age old tradition but it is also a source of income for them. She however admits that she will stop the practice if she is given some other thing to do to earn a living.
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