NYP concerned about religious leaders supporting FGM

This concern by the youth organization came on the heels of recent court conviction of three women (circumciser) caught performing the practise on eight children between 4 months to 1 year in the village of Bakadagi-Mandinka with the mothers of two of the children in CRR.

They were each fined a sum of D15,000 in default to serve one year imprisonment.

However, a religious cleric and former imam of the State House, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, paid the fines of the trio. Also, the prominent imam argued that FGM is a fundamental religious necessity, further describing attempts to eradicate it as 'anti-Islamic.'

This argument by the venerable imam has sparked heated debate and prompted NYP to join a host of organisations and bodies welcoming the historic conviction.

The youth organization expressed delight with the latest court conviction, further stating the move is another significant milestone in the fight against FGM in The Gambia.

The youth organization described the recent court conviction as the first since the enactment of the law.

" As an organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights, we recognize the harmful effects of FGM on the physical and mental health of women and girls. We believe that this Conviction will serve as a strong deterrent to those who still practice FGM despite the strong efforts led by the government, civil society organizations and development partners against."

“We are equally concerned about religious leaders supporting the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in our country to the extent of paying the fine for convicts and having audio messages in circulation against the laws of The Gambia."

Thus, they called on all stakeholders to support the ban on FGM and work towards eliminating the harmful practice.

"We also urge the government to continue its efforts to ensure the effective enforcement of the ban on FGM."