Egyptian politician tells parliament why he believes in female genital mutilation

.... Because Egyptian men are "sexually weak".

Currently, around 9 out of 10 Egyptian women between the ages of 15-49 have been victims of female genital mutilation, despite the procedure being illegal since 2008. Egyptian Member of Parliament, Elhamy Agina told Parliament recently that he believed in the highly degrading  and highly dangerous procedure, citing weak men as the reason for needing female circumcision.  His comments were reported by Parlmany, an Egyptian political website. He said

“We are a population whose men suffer from sexual weakness, which is evident because Egypt is among the biggest consumers of sexual stimulants that only the weak will consume. If we stop female genital mutilation (FGM), we will need strong men and we don’t have men of that sort.”

Agina believes that FGM is the best option because it “reduces a woman’s sexual appetite and women should “stand by their men”.   (image via Unicef) Yesterday, the Egyptian cabinet approved plans to increase jail time for those who force women into female genital mutilation, which when enacted will mean jail time of between five and seven years, with harsher sentences if the procedure leads to death or deformity. Female genital mutilation is essentially a female circumcision which involves ‘the partial or full removal of the external sex organs.’ It is used as a means of suppressing and controlling women, in superstitious countries where family honour is valued above all else. Rooted in superstition and carried out using the most basic of tools, including razor blades or broken glass. According to the BBC

“In its most severe form, after removing the sensitive clitoris, the genitals are cut and stitched closed so that the woman cannot have or enjoy sex. A tiny piece of wood or reed is inserted to leave a small opening for the necessary flow of urine, and monthly blood when she comes of age. When she is ready to have sex and a baby, she is unstitched- and then sewn back up again after to keep her, what is described by proponents as ‘hygienic, chaste and faithful”.

Unicef have estimated that more than 130 million women and girls alive TODAY have undergone this awful procedure.