The cut that pierced my life
(Trigger Warning: Below is the account of one woman’s experience with FGC. We thank her for being brave and sharing her story with us.) Age: 25 Country of residence: India I was born in July, 1990. A rainbow baby they called me. They knew I would be different. Perhaps even arduous. My late mother often […]
Cafe Dissensus runs a special issue on female circumcision in the Bohra community
Cafe Dissensus, an alternative magazine about dissenting art, culture, literature and politics, has run a special May issue focusing solely on female genital cutting or khatna in the Dawoodi Bohra community. Guest-edited by Australian author Rashida Murphy, the FGC-special issue features fifteen essays and deeply personal stories by survivors of khatna and women who are driving […]
Dear daughter, I am sorry you were circumcised
A heartfelt letter from a Bohra father, who wished to remain unnamed, to his grown-up daughter: Dear Daughter, Many years ago, I made a mistake. Your mother came to me and said “I’m going to have our daughter circumcised”. I knew nothing about this procedure, assuming that your mother knew best. My ignorance is no […]
Sahiyo welcomes the new WHO guidelines to improve care for millions living with female genital cutting
The new World Health Organisation guidelines released at the Women Deliver conference, 2016, in Copenhagen is a huge win for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting activists worldwide. Sahiyo is cheering on too! The guidelines, while defining the practice of various types of FGC, has finally put Asia and Middle East on the map of areas affected along […]
Mariya Taher to represent Sahiyo at Women Deliver Conference
Sahiyo is proud to report that cofounder Mariya Taher has been invited by the Orchid Project to attend the Women Deliver Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark and speak at a side event on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, title Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Achieving the Global Goal, Together. Detailed information on side event below: Name of Event: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting […]
Sahiyo infringing copyright privilege of Anjuman-e-Burhani Trust of Sydney or an instance of online harassment and limiting blogging rights- A case of Sahiyo VS the Trust
Since 2015, Sahiyo has been operating a website to inform the public about female genital cutting (FGC) or khatna occurring amongst Dawoodi Bohra communities in India and many other countries around the globe. Our website was created with the intention to have it act as educational tool regarding the traumatic and harmful consequences of […]
’Everyone’s business’: Representing Dawoodi Bohras at the No FGM Australia panel discussion in Sydney
by Mubina Jamdar Female Genital Mutilation is child abuse and a form of gender-based violence in the name of religion: This was the clear message that emerged from the panel discussion held at The Australian Human Rights Commission office in Sydney on April 29, 2016. The event, hosted by No FGM Australia, was titled […]
Joint statement on Syedna Taher Fakhruddin’s stand against khatna
Bohra men must speak up to save their daughters from female circumcision
Name: YusufCountry: India The fatwa given during the Zikra majlis by Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in favor of female genital cutting dug up the wound that exists in my heart which makes me write this post. Looking at parts from the audio clip leaked from the majlis, at one point, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin says what translates […]
Respected Syedna, we are all disappointed by your views on female circumcision
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s recent wa’az (sermon) in Mumbai has come as a disappointment. For almost three months now, Dawoodi Bohras who wish to see an end to female circumcision (khatna) had been hopeful. Starting with Sydney in February, many Bohra jamaats in different cities around the world have issued letters to their members, asking them to […]