Re: stoppppp ! ! ! ! !

> As I said...Muslims...cultural or religious was not the point.

> "Debate Among Muslims:
> As noted above, FGM is a social custom, not a religious
> practice. However, in those Muslim countries where it is
> practice, FGM is often justified by two controversial
> sayings of the Prophet Mohammed that seem to favor sunna
> circumcision. The authenticity of these sayings are
> unconfirmed, and some scholars have refuted them. Even
> if true, they only permit the practice; they do not mandate it."

> http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm

> Never said they were the only ones who practiced it either.

True. And for the sake of those who don't know, sunna circumcision involves removing either just the clitoral hood or the hood plus the tip of the clitoris. And in at least some parts of the world (mainly North Africa and the Middle East) where this form of circumcision is practiced, it's argued that where it's not done, the size and configuration of the clitoris interferes with intercourse.

With regard to the more extreme forms of female circumcision, it's argued that infibulation simply amounts to a simplification of the female genital area.

Two other things are worth noting -- it's almost always females who are involved in carrying out the female circumcision or infibulation and it's often done in hospitals.

So how is it fundamentally different from the male circumcision as practiced in the US, other than that it's normally carried out on older children or young adults?

I'm certainly not arguing in favour of it, but it's illogical to support male infant circumcision but oppose female circumcision or indeed infibulation.