US May Ban Genital Mutilation Parents (of Somali Refugees)

BBC News ^ | October 1, 2002 | Andrew Harding

[Tancred]

US authorities have threatened to ban dozens of Somali refugee families from emigrating to America because the parents have mutilated the genitals of their young daughters.

The traditional circumcision rite is believed to have been carried out recently on girls as young as two after their families were told the act was illegal in the United States.

Some 12,000 Somalis, members of a persecuted minority, are being held in camps in Kenya en route to the US.

The ordeal usually happens at night.

The young girls are held down on the floor by their families - the mutilation takes place without any anaesthetic.

'Crime'

In recent months, dozens of Somali parents, preparing to move to the US, have been rushing to subject their daughters to this agonizing ritual, knowing it is illegal in America.

The American embassy in Nairobi confirmed on Tuesday that this was indeed happening, but it was not sure of the numbers involved.

A spokesman, Tom Hart, condemned the traditional circumcision ceremony as a crime.

He said the rules of cultural sensitivity do not apply here, and he announced that any family found to have mutilated their daughters in the last few months would be investigated and probably barred from resettling in America.

The Somalis involved are members of an ethnic minority - former slaves now persecuted in their own war-torn country.

The United States has agreed to allow the entire ethnic Bantu group to emigrate to America en masse - the first families are due to fly out within a few months.

The Somalis are currently being held in two isolated refugee camps in northern Kenya.

Aid workers have reported incidents of mass circumcisions - serious infections and even death are not uncommon.

In one particularly shocking case, two girls aged two were reported to have been mutilated.

The rush to carry out the traditional rite-of-passage ceremony reportedly began last November and December, when the families were first informed that they would not be allowed to do it in America.

But since then, according to one aid official, an aggressive public information campaign has persuaded many parents to change their minds.

[Shermy]

They'll add a lot to our country.

[Centurion2000]

The United States has agreed to allow the entire ethnic Bantu group to emigrate to America en masse - the first families are due to fly out within a few months.

Do they speak English ?
Do they have anything to contribute to our culture ?

[GovernmentShrinker]

When is the U.S. going to invite the entire ethnic white Zimbabwean farmers group to immigrate en masse?

[JosephW]

They can vote democrat several times each.

[Dasaji]

How is this any different than routine male infant circumcision taking place in the US? The babies are strapped down, given no anesthesia and then have a vital, nerve-rich, God-given piece of anatomy snipped off.

It is their practice *for religious reasons* no different than the practice of male circumcision originating *for religious reasons* as well.

I agree, the practice it totally barbaric (I can't imagine the pain involved as a conscious, aware female) but it is equally barbaric what goes on in the post-delivery time of newborn infant boys.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Rhodesian farmers are needed in America. They would bring a lot to the table (including FOOD!)

[montomike]

I'll bet that a fair amount of these people will, a few years after they arrive here, be much better off than they would have been in Africa. They will be able to take advantage of our fine democratic institutions to get ahead. One or two of them may even be millionaires in a couple of decades (I hear there is a big potential market in kat!). There will be Somali restaurants all over, Somali gangs, Somali ghettos, Somali congressmen and senators. Perhaps even one of their offspring will become president (should he or she be so lucky to have been born in the USA).

[dennisw]

Immigration insanity at it's best. Makes me want to puke that we allow these types into this nation. How the heck are we going to verify genital mutilation??

This ******* stinks!

[Mo1]

VOTE THE RATS OUT!!

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[blackdog]

Sounds like you just found the perfect line of work for X42.

[VOA]

There will be Somali restaurants all over, Somali gangs, Somali ghettos, Somali congressmen and senators.

I don't live there...but I think that the Twin Cities area is on the verge of
having a significant Somali enclave.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Ok bub. Male circumcision is a wise and practical thing. It prevents the spread of disease. It does nothing to take away one of God's greatest gifts, the pleasure felt when a man and woman join. There are few if any nerve endings in the foreskin. The clitoris is chalk full of nerve endings. Why not pull out her teeth? It would be less painful. With no anesthesia no less. BTW, it would be the same as male CASTRATION.

[SandfleaCSC]

How is this any different than routine male infant circumcision taking place in the US? The babies are strapped down, given no anesthesia and then have a vital, nerve-rich, God-given piece of anatomy snipped off.

Apples and oranges pal.

[ibbryn]

details of this immigration are posted here.

I couldn't figure out why no one was outraged when this was originally posted.

[montag813]

Some 12,000 Somalis, members of a persecuted minority, are being held in camps in Kenya en route to the US.

WHAT???

What the hell are these drooling savages coming here for? This is madness! So they kill 20 of our best boys and we bring in 20 THOUSAND of these vermin? Disgusting.

[2rightsleftcoast]

Why are they coming here. I vote no.
Taking more people in when we should be
deporting the Middle Eastern "students"

[montag813]

but it is equally barbaric what goes on in the post-delivery time of newborn infant boys.

It is not at all "barbaric". The foreskin skin is not "nerve-rich" and has no effect on sexual pleasure, unlike the complete destruction of female sexual pleasure which follows female mutilation.

You are ill-informed.