Female Genital Mutilation in Islamic Law: Difference between revisions

'''Female Genital Mutilation''' (Arabic: ختان المرأة) is the practice of cutting away and altering the external female genitalia for ritual or religious purposes. It can involve both or either '''Clitoridectomy''' and '''Excision'''. Clitoridectmoy is the amputation of part or all of the clitoris or the removal of the clitoral prepuce. '''Excision''' is the cutting away of either or both the inner and outer labia. A third practice, '''Infibulation''' (or Pharaonic circumcision), is the paring back of the outer labia, whose cut edges are then stitched together to form, once healed, a seal that covers both the openings of the vagina and the urethra. Infibulation usually also includes clitoridectomy.