Summary: Muslim Council of Britain issues new guidance condemning female genital mutilation

19th June 2014: the Muslim Council of Britain, in conjunction with SRT grantee FORWARD and the Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS, has for the first time issued explicit guidance stating that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is incompatible with Islam.

The guidance, which will be distributed at 500 mosques and community centres in the form of a flyer as well as online, states that FGM is against Islamic teachings and that it can cause serious damage to physical and mental health, fertility problems, complications in childbirth, and even death. It also informs the reader of the legal implications in the UK of carrying out the practice, which can carry a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

FORWARD Trustee and Fellow at the Royal Society for Public Health Dr Yunes Teinaz said, “FGM is practised contrary to the teachings of Islam and is prohibited in the UK and most EU countries. Many girls could be saved from their cruel fate, if there was more awareness among the community of the consequences of FGM. Let us make this possible by the joint work of FORWARD, MCB and religious leaders to build awareness about the negative consequences of FGM in the communities. We will continue to welcome any and every opportunity to raise our voices and to campaign against this illicit practice.”

Full press release from FORWARD’s website: http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/news/641

Guardian article about the MCB’s new guidance: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/23/female-genital-mutilation-muslim-council-britain-unislamic-condemn