By Adan Hussein Daud,

Hello everyone. I am Adan Hussein Daud, Director of Radio Asal. Today we were able to broadcast a programme in which we discussed the situation of female genital mutilation. We were joined by parents, religious leaders of Jowhar town, and young men and women.

We shared a question:

Why is female genital mutilation (FGM) going on at a time when there is a growing awareness among doctors and scholars about ending FGM?

Some of them answered us like this:

Feisal Aynte is a member of the Jowhar City Clerics and he said. The clerics are talking about the problem of female genital mutilation, especially in Jowhar, but the parents do not want to take the advice of the clerics. We have spoken to the media several times and told them to stop the practice because of the health problems of a girl who has undergone FGM.

Nasteho Abukar, one of Jowhar’s mothers, said:

The role of educators in the role of the Ulema in the role of female genital mutilation (FGM) is small because we do not
see the Ulema in the mosques calling for an end to female genital mutilation, let alone the Ulema of Jowhar girls.

Feisal Aynte said again:

Scholars have not yet issued a fatwa on the issue of female genital mutilation except for a small number of no more
than 5 to 3 mosques on the issue of female genital mutilation but the Ministry of Religion and the Ministry of Religion is responsible for the problem.

The Federal Government of Somalia and the Hir-Shabelle administration have slowed down their role in educating the public about the problem of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the like, and should issue directives to end female genital mutilation (FGM) to find a lasting solution to the ongoing bleeding problem that happens to girls.

Nasteexo Abukar said again:

There are many mothers I have met who have received media coverage, but there are still parents outside of Jowhar such as villages who have not yet received awareness of the need to end female genital mutilation and I need to raise awareness to save the lives and future of many Somali girls whose vital organs are to be abused.

Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, one of the young people invited to the discussion told us about a painful incident in which a minor girl in Jowhar underwent severe circumcision.

Mohamed Abdirahman said:

“One day I witnessed a young girl who underwent FGM which was brutally mutilated on her body and the girl
was seriously injured as a result of the FGM and was taken to Mogadishu for treatment. Please, I urge parents
to stop the practice of female genital mutilation.” Mohamed Abdirahman, Jowhar town, Somalia

Maryam Hussein Mohamed who participated in the debate said:

Finally, all participants expressed their sorrow over the continued practice of female genital mutilation and called for increased awareness to prevent parents’ violence against girls.