Efforts to Repeal Gambia's FGM Ban Heard by Supreme Court
A group of Gambian religious leaders and a member of parliament have taken their fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) to the country's highest court, in an effort to overturn a ban that was put in place last year. The move comes after two babies died as a result of FGM procedures in 2023, sparking widespread outrage and calls for greater protection for women.
The Gambia is one of the countries with the highest rates of FGM in the world, with almost three-quarters of women between the ages of 15 and 49 having undergone the practice. Advocates argue that FGM is a brutal form of violence against women that has serious long-term health consequences, including infertility.
Despite being outlawed in 2015, the law was rarely enforced until recently, when three women were convicted and sentenced to fines or imprisonment for performing FGM on children. The convictions sparked a backlash against the ban, leading some to argue that it should be repealed.
However, opponents of the ban, who claim that FGM is an important cultural and religious practice, are now pushing back against the law. A coalition led by Almameh Gibba, a Gambian MP, has launched a case with the supreme court arguing that the law violates the country's constitutional rights to freedom of religion and culture.
The court has heard from two witnesses, including Abdoulie Fatty, a prominent Muslim leader who claimed that female circumcision is not harmful and is part of Islam. He also seemed to downplay the deaths of the two babies as an example of "God's will."
The case has sparked concerns about a wider trend in attacks on women's rights across the world. In recent years, there have been significant backlashes against abortion laws and access to reproductive healthcare services in several countries, including Afghanistan, the US, Iran, Bolivia, Uruguay, India, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, and Argentina.
Human rights activists say that these developments are part of a broader erosion of women's rights worldwide. "Women's rights are really regressing," said Fatou Baldeh, founder of the Gambian rights organisation Women in Liberation & Leadership. "This is not an isolated issue – it's part of a global regression on women's rights."
A group of Gambian religious leaders and a member of parliament have taken their fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) to the country's highest court, in an effort to overturn a ban that was put in place last year. The move comes after two babies died as a result of FGM procedures in 2023, sparking widespread outrage and calls for greater protection for women.
The Gambia is one of the countries with the highest rates of FGM in the world, with almost three-quarters of women between the ages of 15 and 49 having undergone the practice. Advocates argue that FGM is a brutal form of violence against women that has serious long-term health consequences, including infertility.
Despite being outlawed in 2015, the law was rarely enforced until recently, when three women were convicted and sentenced to fines or imprisonment for performing FGM on children. The convictions sparked a backlash against the ban, leading some to argue that it should be repealed.
However, opponents of the ban, who claim that FGM is an important cultural and religious practice, are now pushing back against the law. A coalition led by Almameh Gibba, a Gambian MP, has launched a case with the supreme court arguing that the law violates the country's constitutional rights to freedom of religion and culture.
The court has heard from two witnesses, including Abdoulie Fatty, a prominent Muslim leader who claimed that female circumcision is not harmful and is part of Islam. He also seemed to downplay the deaths of the two babies as an example of "God's will."
The case has sparked concerns about a wider trend in attacks on women's rights across the world. In recent years, there have been significant backlashes against abortion laws and access to reproductive healthcare services in several countries, including Afghanistan, the US, Iran, Bolivia, Uruguay, India, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, and Argentina.
Human rights activists say that these developments are part of a broader erosion of women's rights worldwide. "Women's rights are really regressing," said Fatou Baldeh, founder of the Gambian rights organisation Women in Liberation & Leadership. "This is not an isolated issue – it's part of a global regression on women's rights."
! I mean come on, FGM is literally one of the most brutal things that can happen to a woman and we're still having debates about whether it should be allowed or not? 
Like, didn't we learn from the girls who died last year that this stuff is NOT okay?! 
And now these people are trying to argue that it's some kind of cultural right and freedom of religion thingy... give me a break! 
It's just an excuse for women to be treated like objects and denied basic human rights. I'm so sick of it! 
We need to stand together and support our sisters who are fighting against this stuff. Can't believe the supreme court is even hearing these arguments 
the fact that they're trying to repeal the FGM ban is literally heartbreaking the two baby deaths were just the tip of the iceberg, there are so many more stories like that going unreported. and now we've got these religious leaders and politicians who think they can just ignore the science and common sense about this practice. newsflash: FGM is NEVER acceptable 
it's a brutal form of violence against women that has serious long-term health consequences, including infertility. I'm so worried about the state of human rights right now... 
. i feel for the 2 babies who died last yr it was such a tragedy. can't believe some ppl think its ok to do this to women's bodies. the fact that they're using religion as an excuse is just mind-blowing tbh. anyone else follow this thread?
It's not okay to use "God's will" as an excuse for harming someone. We need to stand up for these women and their families, rather than trying to justify a practice that's just plain wrong. 
Can't we all just try to be more understanding and empathetic towards each other? 
. It's not like they're getting a "cool" new tattoo or something 
. The health risks are real, and the fact that two babies died last year is, like, a major red flag 
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. And another thing, why should we be worried about FGM being "cultural" or "religious"? That's just a bunch of nonsense 
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. And now they're taking this to the highest court in Gambia? That's a major red flag 
. As a society, we need to be more aware of these issues and support each other in standing up for women's rights 
. I mean, female genital mutilation (FGM) is just a brutal way to treat women and it's not even about culture or religion anymore 
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. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and FGM is just a way of controlling and oppressing us 
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. We have to keep pushing forward and fighting for what's right!