Islam Outlaws Female Genital Mutilation

RAUSDORF, Germany, December 4 -- Ten of the highest ranked scholars from all over the world met at the Azhar University under the patronage of the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Prof. Dr. Ali Goma'a. After listening to several international physicians, they pronounced the sensational decision to classify the custom of female genital mutilation (FGM) as punishable aggression and crime against humanity. As a result, the custom can no longer be practiced by Muslims. Now awareness of this decision has to be spread in the 33 affected countries.

The religous scholars at the conference were the following: Grand Mufti and Patron of Al-Azhar: Prof. Dr. Ali Goma'a; the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar: Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawi; the Minister of Religion of Egypt: Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zakzouk; Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi from Qatar; Sheikh Hissein Hassan Abkar from Chad; Imam Mahammadou Diallo from Mali; Imam Bal El Bechir from Mauritania; Sheikh Mohamed Darassa from Ethiopia, and Imam Tarafa Baghrajati from Austria. Reports were given by medical experts from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Germany.

The German human rights organization had invited "TARGET-Ruediger Nehberg" to this conference. Its two presidents, Ruediger Nehberg and Annette Weber, have been engaged in fighting FGM on location in Africa since 2000. They brought into being a "Pro-Islamic Alliance", because they regard Islam as their strongest partner in ending this cruel tradition with the ethics and the power of Islam. At so-called TARGET desert conferences, they had already been able to achieve great successes in Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Mauritania. The conference at the Azhar is the greatest highlight so far. Most of all, it also shows the strong positive forces in Islam.