KONE v. HOLDER Conclusion

September 3, 2010 

Leagle

Lead petitioner Fatoumata Kone ("Kone"), her husband Lasanna Diarra ("Lasanna"), and their oldest daughter Kamissa Diarra ("Kamissa") are natives and citizens of Mali. They entered the United States on August 18, 2001 and remained in the country after the expiration of their visas. Kone and Lasanna then had a second daughter, Mariam, who by virtue of her birth here is a United States citizen. In 2006, Kone, as lead petitioner for her family, filed for asylum, with-holding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture on the basis that if made to return to Mali, Mariam would be forced to undergo female genital mutilation ("FGM"), a common practice in Mali to which both her mother and sister have already been subjected. An immigration judge denied the application, finding the asylum petition untimely and denying other relief on the grounds that Kone could not make a "derivative" claim based on a threat of persecution to her daughter. The Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA") affirmed the denial of relief, and Kone petitioned this court for review. Because the BIA did not address Kone's claim that FGM of her daughter would constitute direct psychological persecution of her parents, we remand for further consideration.

Anti- FGM Advocate Meets Top Government Officials

September 2, 2010

The Informer (Monrovia)

The Organizational Manager of the Inter-African Committee (IAC) on traditional practices affecting the health of women and children, Mr. Alemayhn Asseta Wednesday, August 25, 2010 paid a courtesy call on Acting Information, Culture and Tourism Minister, Norris Tweah on Capitol Hill.

During the meeting, Mr. Asseta called on the Government of Liberia to join the advocacy and fight against harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) among others practices that threaten the health of women and children.

In response, Minister Tweah welcomed the mission of the IAC, stressing that any practices against the dignity and health of another human persons, particularly women and children should be denounced by every civilized persons and governments the world over.

INDONESIA: Female genital mutilation persists despite ban

September 2, 2010
IRIN

JAKARTA - Though the Indonesian government banned female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) four years ago, experts say religious support for the practice is more fervent than ever, particularly in rural communities.

A lack of regulation since the ban makes it difficult to monitor, but medical practitioners say FGM/C remains commonplace for women of all ages in this emerging democracy of 240 million - the world’s largest Muslim nation.

Although not authorized by the Koran, the practice is growing in popularity.With increased urging of religious leaders, baby girls are now losing the top or part of their clitoris in the name of faith, sometimes in unsanitary rooms with tools as crude as scissors.

“We fear if [FGM/C] gets more outspoken support from religious leaders it will increase even more. We found in our latest research that not only female babies are being circumcised, but also older women ask for it,” said Artha Budi Susila Duarsa, a university researcher at Yarsi University in Jakarta.

While the procedure in Indonesia is not as severe as in parts of Africa and involves cutting less flesh, it still poses a serious health concern.

Fighting Female Genital Mutilation

September 2, 2010
Human Rights Watch

In Iraqi Kurdistan, 40 percent of women and girls between the ages of 14 and 22 have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), surveys suggest, a practice that involves cutting out the clitoris. The practice is perpetuated by women -- often mothers, aunts and grandmothers - who say they want the best for the children, as they believe it makes their girls "clean" and marriageable.


Some link the practice to Sunni Islam's Shafi'i school of thought, to which most Kurds belong.Human Rights Watch researchers Nadya Khalife and photographer Samer Muscati traveled to the rural villages and farmlands of Iraqi Kurdistan to interview and photograph women about their experiences with FGM.


The ensuing Human Rights Watch report had immediate impact. Shortly after its release the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union issued a fatwa declaring that FGM isn't an Islamic practice and that people should abandon it if it is proven harmful.

As each traveled to Iraqi Kurdistan at a different time, it was only later that Nadya and Samer discussed their experiences researching this issue.

Nadya: FGM is such a nuanced issue for women, it's so sensitive. And yet, Samer, you're a man, and you photographed these women. Did you get any kind of push-back from such a conservative society because you're male?

Race to Raise Funds for Girls' Rescue Center

September 1, 2010 

The Greeley Tribune 

A 5K/10K walk and run to benefit the Kenya Girls' Rescue Center by Christ Community Church in Greeley is set for Sept. 18.

The race, which starts with registration at 7:30 a.m. and begins at 9 a.m., will benefit the Olooloitikosh Project, which helps girls avoid practices of female genital mutilation and forced marriages. The center is a way for them to escape their abusive families and build their own lives.

The race costs $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the race. If you bring a clean, nearly new clothing item you can get $5 off the price of the race. All sizes and styles are OK.

Register in person at the church, 1301 15th St. in Greeley. You can go to www.cccgreeley.org to print out a form to take to the church.

Egypt Renews Crackdown on Female Mutilation

September 1, 2010
Yolande Knell / BBC News

There are giggles and shouts as little children play boisterously in the dusty street by the Hadad family home in the village of Abu Nashaba.

Just inside the front door, however, a mother dressed in black is sitting on the floor weeping silently. It is less than a month since the death of her 13-year-old daughter, Nermeen.

The girl died in a nearby health clinic and was buried without a permit from the local authorities.

After an anonymous tip to a government telephone hotline, her doctor has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out an illegal operation to circumcise her.

This case in the Nile Delta governorate of Menufiya has raised fresh concern that, despite a ban passed two years ago, female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a widespread practice.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) affects up to 140 million Women Globally

September 1, 2010
Nancy Koener / The Examiner

FACT:
1. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is more than just the equivalent to male circumcision. It involves several variations of crude surgical procedures to alter the genitalia of young women and girls for reasons of culture, religious, or social practices for non-medical reason. There are no personal hygienic or health benefits.

2. Approximately 100 million to 140 million females are currently affected by the consequences of this practice. These complications include: shock, severe bleeding, short-term and long-term urinary tract infections, difficulty in passing urine, massive scarring, inability to experience orgasm, painful sexual intercourse, complications in childbirth and newborn fatalities from a externally-restricted birth passage. 
3. FGM is practiced on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. It is often associated the puberty rites. Sixty-five to ninety percent of affected women are from eastern, north-eastern, or far western regions of Africa.

Opinion: Cornell and the Clitoris Barbarians: Clitoroplasty is just vaginal mutilation by another name

September 1, 2010
Sara Kassabian / CU Independent

Armed with surgical tools and operating behind the protection of academia’s bureaucracy is Dix Poppas, a pediatric urologist at Cornell University practicing “medical research” that is essentially genital mutilation supported by university research funds and a few degrees.

Under the guise of medical research, Poppas and others have been operating on what they judge to be “oversized clitorises” on women ages five to 25.

There is no research that states that having a slightly large clitoris will hinder the sexual or mental development of young girls. The potential risks that follow Poppas’ clitoroplasty are severe and highly probable as patients have the potential for nerve damage, urinary tract infections, incontinence and an inability to experience orgasm.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) withdrew their initial policy statement in May regarding female genital cutting (FGC), stating that FGC can be life threatening.

“…It is important that the world health community understands the AAP is totally opposed to all forms of female genital cutting, both here in the U.S. and anywhere else in the world.”