Female Genital Mutilation is something that is often associated with African communities, especially those belonging to Dawoodi and other Bohra communities.
Latest reports reveal that FMG is carried out even in Kerala, which boasts to have achieved 100% literacy. In an investigation conducted by Sahiyo, an organisation working against FGM in Bohra community has found that the system is practised in some hospitals in the northern districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram in the state.
Though the members tried to find out the hospitals none of them, except one in Kozhikode, agreed to perform the procedure. It was found that FGM also known as Female Genital Cutting is performed by the women belonging to the Muslim community in the area.
Sahiyo conducted the investigation in February this year, and the doctors of a private clinic in Kozhikode admitted that they perform the procedure on both boys and girls. It is often referred to as ‘sunnath’ or circumcision in Kerala.
They also said that circumcision among female is just cutting of clitoral hood or prepuce of the clitoris and it is ‘good for married life.’
They also said that some women approach them as their husbands or mother-in-laws ‘insists on it.’
The hospital authorities also claimed that it is very commonly practised in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Egypt and said it is not harmful.
However, what the doctors are practising at Kozhikode hospital falls under World Health Organisation’s definition of FGM.
Sahiyo carried out the investigation based during a discussion on circumcision of women on females on an online Malayalam forum.
The Keralite said that it is often performed by a traditional cutter called as ‘Ozathy’, who don’t have any medical training, but it is also done by some doctors in Malabar region.
Sahiyo also states that they met two women, one from Kerala and another from Coimbatore who said that one of their relatives had performed Sunnath, but both were not ready to reveal their identity
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