Atlantica - 01.02.2002, Blaðsíða 20

18 A T L A N T I C A
airmail
What it is: An operation on the female genitals which takes
place in very primitive conditions using a sharp knife or razor
blade. The practice takes place in 28 African countries and
some other Muslim countries throughout the world (although
nothing is mentioned about it in the Koran). The operation
entails the cutting away of the clitoris and most of the exter-
nal genitals and finally they are sewn up leaving only a tiny
hole for urination and menstruation. When the woman is mar-
ried her husband ‘opens’ her up with a knife.
The effects: By cutting away the clitoris the woman will
never be able to enjoy sex. The effects of sewing up the gen-
itals can include shock, infection, damage to the urinary
tract, scarring, tetanus, bladder infections, blood poisoning,
HIV and Hepatitis B. Over a longer time period the operation
can cause chronic infections to the urinary tract and to the
vagina, infertility, cysts, difficulty in urinating, extreme men-
strual pain, excessive menstrual blood in the womb, depres-
sion and even death.
How many: Researchers believe that circumcision has a
4,000-year-old history. Two million women are circumcised
each year, which means 6,000 per day.
Age: Originally girls were circumcised as teenagers. Now
most of them are circumcised from the ages of four to 12.
Why: Circumcision is a way to control women. An uncircum-
cised woman is considered unclean and a prostitute.
Circumcision ensures a woman’s fidelity to her husband.
“I hope that in a few years’ time, I can
say, ‘This mutilation has stopped.’ But at
this very minute, so many girls are being
mutilated in the world. There is really no
way to imagine the horror of this.“
I ask Dirie if she considers herself a
feminist.
“I very much dislike that word. I am a
woman activist. I believe in human rights,
and that has nothing to do with feminism.
It’s just about making things better for all
of us; about accepting each other on this
planet. We’re all in this together.“
Although Dirie has led an incredible
life, she has also endured great hard-
ships. I ask her what has helped her the
most to get through them.
“God – the light, the power, the spirit,
this knowing, being connected to some-
thing so great. I’m not religious. Religion
is just what us little human people make
up. But waking up every morning, seeing
the magic and beauty of life makes me
think of God.”
Desert Flower has been published in
over 200 languages and has brought Dirie
to all the far corners of the world. She
admits to not having known anything
about Iceland before her visit.
“I have been welcomed with open
arms here, and have felt so much love. I
thought to myself, ‘Of all the places in the
world. Oh my God, I’m going to stick out
like a sore thumb – one black person
walking around in those white moun-
tains.’ To my great surprise, the people
on this island are so connected with the
rest of the world. They know about every-
thing that’s going on and that’s so impor-
tant.“
What can the rest of the world do to
help your cause?
“Governments and the public can help
by writing letters of protest to govern-
ments and embassies. We have also
launched an organisation called ‘Desert
Dawn’ in Somalia which helps to educate
young women on their choices regarding
circumcision and childbirth. People can
visit our web site, www.desertdawn.com,
to see how they can help. The message
that female mutilation cannot be tolerat-
ed needs to be spread throughout the
world. A baby is born perfect, just as God
intended. An inhumane operation only
brings pain and suffering.“ 
Anna Margrét Björnsson is a staff writer
Female Circumcision: The facts
≈
016-018 ATL601 Waris-rm 14.12.2001 15:30 Page 18