Two Day Magazine

Recently, Egypt’s Tahrir News interviewed Dr. Amima Kamal, who is the advisor to President Morsi on Women’s Affairs, as well as a member of the Constituent Assembly and the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party.

Of course, a hot button issue within the Islamic community is that of circumcision, so it was natural that subject was broached. The Qur’an does not actually speak of circumcision, and if you read through the Qur’an, there are numerous verses that refer to Allah creating everything, including us (both men and women) in the most perfect form. Here are a few verses in the Qur’an that exemplify this position:

• "The One Who has 'perfected everything' He has created and began the creation of human beings from clay" (Qur'an 32:7)

• "Allah is the One who made the Earth a habitat for you, and the sky as a structure, and He designed you, and has perfected your design. " (Qur'an 40:64)

• "Allah created the heavens and the Earth for a true purpose, He designed you, and has perfected your design. You will all return to Him." (Qur'an 64:3)

However, when Dr. Kamal was asked about how she would advise President Morsi on this topic, she stated that the practice should not be performed on girls that are only seven or eight years old. Only when a girl reaches puberty should this practice be performed.

Yet, when pressed to take a position on female circumcision, an abhorrent and dangerous practice in which most or all of the clitoris is removed via a knife, sharp rock or pair of scissors, she admitted that the practice was not strictly Islamic, although it is allowed. In fact, she went on to state that girls who do not have this “operation” (it’s an atrocity, really) performed on them are “lacking in faith.”

Bring on the backlash!

Many critics came forward (naturally) to denounce Kamal’s remarks as “against the dignity of Egyptian women” -- and like anyone trying to backpedal, Kamal now denies making this inflammatory remark.

My question is for Dr. Kamal is why would she say such a thing in the first place? Not only is there nothing in the Qur’an that states that women should undergo this abomination to their bodies, it is actually a slap in the face to their Creator to do so.

Think of it this way: If Allah created you to be perfect, if He designed you to be perfect and you are supposed to return to Him in the same form as to which He created you, isn’t the real crime to change the shape in which you were first molded?

The women and men of Islam need to stand against such violent and evil practices like female circumcision in the name of their Creator. By allowing women like Dr. Kamal to spew such blasphemy should make them enraged, right?

But, why doesn’t it? Could it be because female circumcision is only being thinly veiled as a religious exercise so that the masses will continue to allow it? When, in actuality, it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with the suppression of the female body, mind and spirit. For if we denigrate the body, if we castrate the core of our womanness, if we demonize our sex and destroy that of which moves heaven and earth, we can easily subjugate an entire class of people, have them turn on themselves like rabid wolves, willing to cut and claw one another to prove their devotion to something that was never asked of them. It is, in fact, a way to manipulate and control both men and women for political power, by exploiting the irrational fears of all things feminine.

The women and men of Islam should not only stand against the practice, but they should vehemently and outwardly oppose any regime, political party or assembly that encourages or enforces this atrocity to be committed. For if anyone is “lacking in faith” it is Dr. Kamal and others who feel as though they could create better than the One who created them all.

********************************************

twoday magazine wants to know: What did you think of Dr. Kamal's remarks? Share with us your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Can't get enough? Follow @twodaymag on Twitter.

Find this article to be interesting? Check out some other articles about hot-button issues from twoday magazine:

     Ann Romney: Why We Will Never Relate By Kristen Houghton

     More Moms Working as Sex Phone Operators? By Natalie Bencivenga

     Reclaiming 'Slut' By Natalie Bencivenga