Mariya Ali – London Bohra Resident – “Last Generation to Lose a Pinch of Our Skin”
By Mariya Ali I was born and raised in London, England and have been a lifelong member of the London Jamaat. Although FGM has been illegal in the United Kingdom since 1985, myself and many other girls have been subjected to this barbaric ritual, despite it being outlawed. After the Australian court case and subsequent […]
A note about Sahiyo’s Online Survey
There have been a few media reports showcasing that ‘80% of Bohra women who took a survey on khatna were circumcised’. This statistic does come from Sahiyo’s online survey. However, we request that media representatives please first get in touch with Sahiyo before quoting or mentioning this statistic in any article, TV or radio interview. The statistic is a […]
After Australia, Bohras in London asked to stop practicing female circumcision
(Originally published in Scroll.in on February 16, 2016)A notice issued by community authorities asks members to obey British laws that make female genital mutilation illegal.Aarefa Johari · Today · 01:00 pm PHOTO CREDIT: REUTERS/DANISH SIDDIQUI4K Total Views In another victory for Dawoodi Bohras campaigning for an end to the ancient practice of female genital cutting, all Bohra […]
Come See A Pinch of Skin – A film by Priya Goswami
In 2012, Sahiyo Cofounder, Priya Goswami released the documentary, “A Pinch of Skin”, which has become a national award-winning documentary on female genital mutilation, in India. A Pinch Of Skin will be screening in Mumbai on 19th Feb at 7.30 PM at Liberty Cinemas. This screening is organised by Osianama (part of the Oisan’s Film Festival) […]
Stop female circumcision, Dawoodi Bohra authorities tell community members in Australia
(Article originally posted in Scroll.in on Feb 11, 2016) By Aarefa Johari Three months after a group of Dawoodi Bohras was held guilty for female genital mutilation in a landmark verdict by an Australian court, community authorities have issued a notice to all Bohras in Australia asking them to obey the law of the land […]
If jannat lies at the foot of my mother, why did khatna happen to me?
(Trigger Warning: The story here is another woman’s experience of FGC. We thank her for being brave enough to share it with us.) By Insiya Lokhandwala Age: 33 Country: Mumbai, India I remember going to Pune for vacation when I was seven. Once there, my eldest masi (aunt) took me to a building where there was […]
Now, a petition against khatna by UK Bohra woman
Voices against the practice of female genital cutting in the Bohra community seem to be getting louder and more numerous. The latest to speak out is an anonymous Bohra woman from the United Kingdom who was subjected to khatna as a child and remembers it as a traumatic incident. She has now launched a petition […]
All countries, NOW, required to track FGC for U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
For far too long, FGC has been misunderstood and misrepresented as only an “African” problem. Indeed, we hear terrifying stories about the practice of FGC and the horrific physical and mental consequences on women and girls from those countries. Yet, there has been a huge silence on the occurrence of FGC in other parts of […]
‘If Allah has sent us whole, why should we cut for the sake of God?’
(Trigger Warning: The story below is a powerful account of one woman’s memory of FGC. We are grateful to her for sharing with us the details of her experience.) By Saleha Paatwala Country: Noida, India Age: 23 I was 7 years of age when one day my grandma took me to an unfamiliar place. I was informed […]
Each One, Reach One – A FGC Public Outreach Campaign
Each One, Reach One A campaign to raise awareness about female genital cutting among Bohras by Sahiyo and Speak Out on FGM February 6 – March 8, 2016The Bohras are the only known community in India to practice female circumcision, a ritual that involves cutting the tip of a young girl’s clitoris. The practice is also called female […]