West Java. Guidelines on how to perform female genital mutilation/cutting issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Health could cause an increase in the practice, medical experts and rights groups fear.
Though FGM/C was banned in 2006, two of Indonesia’s Muslim organizations, including the largest and mostly moderate, Nahdlatul Ulama, ultimately condone the practice advising “not to cut too much,” and, as a result, many continue to perform the procedure.
“This will give doctors a new motivation to circumcise [girls] because now they can say the Ministry of Health approves of this, and the Indonesian Council of Ulema [MUI] approves of it,” said Jurnalis Uddin, a doctor and lecturer at Yarsi University in Jakarta.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types.
- Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris).
- Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are “the lips” that surround the vagina).
- Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
- Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/female-genital-cutting.cfm
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After 8 years of George W. Bush I found it hard to imagine that there could plsbisoy be any one worse for Israel than George W. Bush was. To date, George W. Bush has been by far and away the most harmful to Israeli interests of any American President.While it does appear that Barack Obama has something aganist Israel and he is prepared “to act on it,” it remains to be seen how much damage he can actually do. In the case of Mr. Bush, the Republican “base” probably tolerated anti-Israel measures that they would not have toloerated had they been instituted by a Democrat. Mr. Obama is unlikely to have the support of Republicans on most anti-Israel measures he might persue. Also, Mr. Obama faces a deterioating economic situation. This is going to require a great deal of his attention. These factors will cut into Obama’s ability to pressure Israel.While it is true that Obama does not really need Repubicans right now, if the economy gets worse, as it likely will given the bone headed policies of the Democrats and Mr. Obama, the Democrats will likely be in serious trouble come election time in 2010. In other words, they may be to busy trying to hold onto the the House and Senate to focus to much on Israel.Finally, the American military is tremendously worn down from continued operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the “Global War on Terror” and the huge budget deficits will likely force steep cuts to the military budget. Given these factors a “military option” for Obama to bring Israel into compliance is all but impossible right now and it will be even less likely in future years. For the sake of America, I pray these factors will act to restrain the baser instincts of some in the American government. Unfortunately Obama has shown himself to be a fool in many of his actions. He may just be foolsih enough to try something stupid against Israel. In which case we would hope he has advisors who would steer him in a sensible direction or that Congress would restrain him.In the final analysis, America needs Israel far more than Israel needs America. America needs Israeli intellegence and it needs for Israel to act as a buffer between it and its Islamic enemies. Should Israel choose not to cooperate with America this would place the survival of America in an even more precarious position than it already is. I pray Mr. Obama and the American government come to their senses.
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