Egypt Imposes Total Ban on Female Genital Cutting

Egypt recently announced that it will impose a total ban on female genital cutting, rescinding a provision that allowed the practice to be performed by qualified physicians in exceptional cases. A spokesperson for the ministry of health said that under the ban, no member of the medical profession would be allowed to perform the operation in public or private clinics, adding that any person breaks the law will be punished. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa on Sunday said the practice is not allowed under Islamic law. He added, "The harmful tradition of [female] circumcision that is practiced in Egypt in our era is forbidden".