TV Panel discussion on the role of Masjid Imams Raising Awareness about FGM as Community Guides: Jigjiga city, Ethiopia

By Muhiyadin Mohamed,

My name is Muhiyadin Mohamed Aden, I am a Somali journalist from Goobjoog TV Jigjiga Office and vice director of the Somali region journalist Association. For the past years working different media houses in the region.

Type of Media and its reach:

Type of media: Television known as Goobjoog TV Jigjiga Office. Goobjoog TV covers and reaches around the world and is viewed by millions of viewers and followers. It has very interesting programmes and films which are viewed in Eastern African countries in particular.

Media Idea:

“Panel discussion on the role of Masjid Imams play in raising awareness about FGM as a community guide in Jigjiga city”

After I won the Media grant funded by a global media campaign to create an awareness Campaign. I held a panel discussion programme on the role of Imams in mosques, who can help with the community awareness as they regularly present lectures to the community after the prayers.

I have invited Islamic scholars from the largest mosques in Jigjiga the capital city of the Somali region in Ethiopia, the most populated mosques, to convey the message of female genital mutilation to the worshipping community.

Since I joined the media campaign in this region for the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation. I have participated in panel discussions and other programmes that I have made from the support and grants of GMC.

The media is a golden opportunity to easily inform the public about the harm FGM causes to young girls.

In this programme which lasted for more than 20 minutes, the scholars discussed how to end the problem of female genital mutilation and the role of the Imams of the mosques in the media campaign to end FGM in the Somali region.

Strong Messages:

Sheikh Mohamed Siyad

The Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jigjiga said this while speaking on the GoobJoogTV programme:

"As scholars, by quoting the religious teachings that god revealed, we assure the public that FGM is illegal and has no basis in Islam." Sheikh Abdi Shakur Ahmed Mohamed: Jigjiga city, Ethiopia Click To Tweet "We are committed to participating in the media campaign to end female genital mutilation to signify the role of Somali region religious scholars." Sheikh Abdi Shakur Ahmed Mohamed: Jigjiga city, Ethiopia Click To Tweet

The Imam of Masjidul Hashimi who was participating in the GoobJoogTV panel discussion said: FGM is a cultural practice that harms the health of girls.

"I am telling the parents who believe FGM circumcision to their daughters can be protection is wrong belief but they will be safe if their children are raised well and their morals are protected while they are getting mature." Imam of… Click To Tweet

Impact of the Programme:

At the end of the programme, which was an interesting discussion, the Imams condemned the act of FGM circumcision of young girls, which harms their future.

when this panel discussion was recorded and broadcast have the following impacts:

To give massive awareness about FGM to society to save them from the health risks of circumcision.

The community to have a better understanding that FGM is not based on religion.

To increase the awareness issued from the Masjid about eradicating FGM.

Finally, the community to unite fighting against FGM.

The success of the Programme:

One of the greatest successes of the program was that the program was implemented as proposed without any great challenge.

Another success of this panel discussion programme was that the mosque imams who did not get a chance to attend previous training, consultations, and programmes recognised their role as community guides in eradicating FGM in the Somali region and they promised to raise FGM awareness after prayer times.