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Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn introduces federal bill to criminalize female genital mutilation

Aug 15, 2019 3:00 pm By Christine Douglass-Williams

A Tennessee Senator, Marsha Blackburn, has introduced a federal bill that would criminalize female genital mutilation (FGM). It’s about time this law was introduced at the federal level and laws strengthened to aid the growing number of girls who are being abused by this procedure. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “over 500,000 women and girls have either undergone, or are at risk of undergoing the procedure.”

Four months ago, the Department of Justice decided to abandon efforts to uphold America’s FGM law, “concluding it is too weak as written and needs to be changed in order to successfully prosecute anyone.” This decision bore implications for two Michigan doctors, Dr. Jumana Nagarwala and Dr. Fakhuruddin Attar, and six others. Although FGM charges against them were thrown out last November by U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman when he ruled them to be be technically “unconstitutional,” the two doctors still faced conspiracy and obstruction charges that could have sent them to jail for two to three decades, but the DOJ dropped all charges. Defense lawyers also “argued that the defendants are good, hardworking people with deeply held religious convictions who were involved in only mild procedures that are part of their faith,” in complete disregard for the suffering of their victims.

FGM, like many other human rights violations in Islam, is a religiously sanctioned practice, as stated in the Hadiths:

 “Abu al- Malih ibn Usama’s father relates that the Prophet said: ‘Circumcision is a law for men and a preservation of honour for women.’” (Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 5:75)

“Narrated Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah: A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her: ‘Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.’” (Abu Dawud 41:5251)

Reliance of the Traveller — the classic manual of Islamic law — also states that “circumcision is obligatory for men and women.” (‘Umdat al-Salik e4.3)

In the U.S. Currently, laws about FGM differ from state to state, with many states having no laws against it at all.

“Tennessee Senator introduces federal bill criminalizing female genital mutilation,” by Adrian Mojica, Fox 17, August 14, 2019:

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania have introduced legislation which could criminalize female genital mutilation nationwide.

H.R. 3583 and S. 2017 were each introduced in late June with the goal of overturning a 2018 ruling by a federal judge which found Congress was unable to pass a 1996 law which banned the practice on females under 18 except when done out of medical necessity.

The new bill would again ban FGM on girls under 18 and specifies on laws governing interstate commerce, which Congress has jurisdiction over. Otherwise it is up to the states to pass laws.

Tennessee passed a law this year which went into effect on July 1. Under the Tennessee law, it is a Class D felony to knowingly mutilate a female, facilitate the act, or transport or facilitate a female for FGM.

The state law also extends the statute of limitations for prosecutions and civil actions when it comes to FGM…..

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Filed Under: Featured, female genital mutilation, Sharia, United States, women's rights in Islam Tagged With: Marsha Blackburn, Nashville, Scott Perry, Tennessee


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Comments

  1. Stanton Lore says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    This should not be a partisan issue. Will Democrats defend the indefensible?

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 8:03 pm

      Good question–this should *not* be a partisan issue–but it probably will be.

  2. Kessler says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Waiting for all the “moderate” Muslims to label this move islamophobic – with full backing of their Liberal useful idiots

  3. Angemon says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 3:39 pm

    Defense lawyers also “argued that the defendants are good, hardworking people with deeply held religious convictions who were involved in only mild procedures that are part of their faith,” in complete disregard for the suffering of their victims.

    I believe that there’s historical precedent in the USA where the law of the land trumps religion.

    • Kay says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 6:06 pm

      Even our child abuse identification training includes a nod to “culture” as part of the topic of cruelty.

    • stefanryz says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 9:38 pm

      if we don’t then we r a theocratic nation already.

  4. Roland says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    Friends, get busy! Ask your congresspeople to support anti-FGM bills H.R. 3583 and S. 2017.

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      +1

  5. James Lincoln says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    We definitely need to have female genital mutilation FGM outlawed at the federal level ! ! !

    This should received bipartisan support – but we all need to contact our respective US Senators and US Congressmen to make sure.

    It will be interesting to see which legislators will not support this…

  6. Steve Andrews says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    I don’t care much for religion at all — but I’m generally on the side of Christians and Jews — except for genital mutilation [circumcision] of children. If they want to cut themselves when they are 18 or 21, then they have the right to decide that — and no religion should be allowed to interfere with that right.

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 8:48 pm

      Jews do not practice FGM. Whatever your views on male circumcision might be, it does not prevent sexual feeling–nor even the ability to safely give birth, as forms of FGM do.

      • Tricia Stuercke says

        Aug 15, 2019 at 10:12 pm

        GI, EXACTLY! Always right on it! 💜
        FGM’s sole purpose (to my knowledge, correction welcome) is to TAKE AWAY sexual joy from the women under Islam, & yes I mean under!
        It is a barbaric, dangerous, unsanitary, horrifically-painful, humiliating “procedure”!
        Bottom line: Not only are girls & women considered “property” in Islam, & treated strictly as Slaves to all boys & men (even their younger brothers), but they are REFUSED the most-base-joy in Intimacy!
        The Poisoned Cherry on this Camel-Dung Cake? Is this done more to deny them any physical joy in true moments of actual loving intimacy (for the few so blessed), or is FGM related in some sick way to the favorite Muslim Male Bonding Ritual of Rape/Gang Rape?
        To be a fly on the Congressional Ladies Room wall, hearing what Tlaib & Omar are discussing… this will take some careful creativity on their part… Thank You again Senator Blackburn, for putting our 2 Muslim Congresswomen in a rather difficult predicament! My, my… what to say to the media? How will the Democrat Feminazis “nuance” their way thru this? Yes… Bless You, Marsha Blackburn!

        • J D S says

          Aug 16, 2019 at 11:45 am

          You are right Graven and Tricia….sole reason…Gratification The reason for that….Muslim men don’t want women to enjoy sex so they won’t stray just making them like the sheep they use when their fixture women are not available…..To do this to children is unconscionable and what young girl, with any sense at all and not controlled by men, would want to do this to themselves…..I hope this Senator’s Bill gets somewhere but with the mindset of the House and Senate today…doubtful.

        • gravenimage says

          Aug 17, 2019 at 11:25 pm

          +1

      • Just a Concerned Citizen says

        Aug 16, 2019 at 6:49 am

        Your cognitive dissonance aside, it is counterproductive to condemn the cutting of one gender while tolerating it for the other. I challenge you to find any culture that puts their daughters under the knife that does not also insist on it for their sons. As long as we refuse to confront forced genital cutting for ALL, there will always be those who cut both.

        Genital mutilation isn’t a pissing contest. The same rights are being violated, regardless of the victim’s sex or the spectrum of harm it causes. Furthermore, the sons of Jews deserve their basic human rights to bodily autonomy, just as the daughters do (and everyone else, for that matter). I would say that arguing the case otherwise is what’s truly antisemitic.

        • gravenimage says

          Aug 16, 2019 at 8:15 pm

          Just a Concerned Citizen wrote:

          Your cognitive dissonance aside, it is counterproductive to condemn the cutting of one gender while tolerating it for the other. I challenge you to find any culture that puts their daughters under the knife that does not also insist on it for their sons. As long as we refuse to confront forced genital cutting for ALL, there will always be those who cut both.

          Genital mutilation isn’t a pissing contest. The same rights are being violated, regardless of the victim’s sex or the spectrum of harm it causes. Furthermore, the sons of Jews deserve their basic human rights to bodily autonomy, just as the daughters do (and everyone else, for that matter). I would say that arguing the case otherwise is what’s truly antisemitic.
          ……………………..

          This is *not* the same thing. Male circumcision does not prevent men from feeling sexual sensation, as Just a Concerned Citizen implies. This would only be the case if male circumcision removed the head of the penis, which it does not.

          I had a male friend who had had to be circumcised as a young man, due to a too-tight foreskin. He reported no lessening of sexual sensation–although he did have rather more scarring than if he had had this done when he was younger.

          Whereas, even Type 1 FGM removes the entire clitoris. And Type 3 also involves infibulation, which makes giving birth incredibly hazardous, and even intercourse horrendously painful. There is nothing similar in male circumcision.

          I very much understand–and largely agree with–the argument that no one should undergo any sort of body modification without their consent. And there *have* been a few anti-male circumcision activists here at Jihad Watch over the years.

          But far more common is the “Tu Quoque” argument–that since there was slavery in the United States hundreds of years ago that Infidels should not be allowed to oppose slavery under Islam; that since women did not have the vote a hundred years ago that Infidels should not be allowed to criticize the abuse of women in Islam; that since male circumcision is allowed in the US, that Infidels should not be allowed to end the mutilation of little girls.

          Which type is Just a Concerned Citizen? Given his not having said that he is trying to end *all* circumcision, my guess is likely the latter.

    • Ole Pederson says

      Aug 17, 2019 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you Steve! And no religion should interfere with the right of children to grow up unmolested and without mutilation of any kind.

  7. Tricia Stuercke says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    Praise The LORD! Thank you, Marsha Blackburn! I’ve long-admired this truly good Public Servant… she fights for REAL women’s issues, not “free” birth control & abortions! And, Blackburn’s the ONLY 1 I see fighting the Islamic Infestation of this country! Time for “We the People” to step up now… email your Senators & tell them you EXPECT their support on this overdue, highly-just, desperately-needed law! God Bless Senator Blackburn, who’ll likely have a Fatwa on her lovely head by morning… may Our Lord protect her & her loved ones.

    • GreekEmpress says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 5:41 pm

      Tricia,
      Hope you’re doing well. Good to see you posting.
      We have not forgotten about you and SomeHistory!

      • Kay says

        Aug 15, 2019 at 6:08 pm

        +1

      • Tricia Stuercke says

        Aug 15, 2019 at 9:03 pm

        Greek Empress, you are truly Heaven Sent! Thank you so deeply for your thoughfulness & kindness! I’m anxious to know how SH is doing! 💜

        • gravenimage says

          Aug 15, 2019 at 10:00 pm

          Hi Tricia. Hope you are doing well, also.

      • gravenimage says

        Aug 15, 2019 at 10:00 pm

        Has anyone seen Somehistory posting? I hope he is doing well since his operation and will be back here soon.

  8. Mr. Cohen says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    Uzi Baruch wrote:

    Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed
    Has banned the wearing of the niqab
    [Islamic] face-veil in public institutions
    “for security reasons.”

    SOURCE:
    Tunisia bans the niqab Muslim face cover in public
    by Uzi Baruch, 5/7/2019 for Israel National News
    http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com/News/News.aspx/265566

    QUESTION: When will Europe and North America
    follow their wise example, and ban the niqab?

  9. CogitoErgoSum says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    Here is another instance where I will ask: Where is the verse from the Quran that requires female circumcision? Is it being done based only on a hadith concerning something Muhammad said? Is everything Muhammad said equal to being as coming from Allah? If so, would that not make Muhammad a partner with Allah and would that not be blasphemy under Islam’s own rules? It’s crazy. If Allah did not require it in the Quran it should not be considered as being required under Islam. Was Muhammad infallible in everything he ever said? If I were a Muslim I would look at this in the same way as I look at what the Pope says as a Catholic. If the Pope says something just as his own personal opinion, it’s not something I am required to follow as the infallible word of God. The same should go for Muslims with regard to Muhammad and his personal opinions. Pass the law.

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 10:19 pm

      I take your point, CogitoErgoSum–but I don’t want us to have to adhere to the savagery of the Qur’an, either.

      • CogitoErgoSum says

        Aug 15, 2019 at 11:21 pm

        Well, of course not, but I can’t help pointing out what I see as being illogical.

        • gravenimage says

          Aug 17, 2019 at 11:27 pm

          Agreed, CogitoErgoSum.

    • Giacomo Latta says

      Aug 16, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      The point is whether any religious group should have any defence against a democratically-enacted law. The answer is a resounding NO. Democracy rules, religions drool.

  10. gravenimage says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 7:52 pm

    Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn introduces federal bill to criminalize female genital mutilation
    ……………

    Brava, Senator Marsha Blackburn!

    • Tricia Stuercke says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 10:13 pm

      Indeed! 👏

  11. CRUSADER says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    Brigitte Gabriel on FGM

    https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2017/06/07/brigitte-gabriel-fgm-honor-killings-downplayed-islamists-perfected-public-relations-war/

    https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/katie-yoder/2017/10/20/brigitte-gabriel-slams-leftist-media-ignoring-female-genital

  12. CRUSADER says

    Aug 15, 2019 at 9:09 pm

    Ayaan Hirsi Ali on FGM

    https://www.theahafoundation.org/ayaan-hirsi-ali-culture-never-an-excuse-to-harm-girls-with-genital-mutilation/

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp4rPaJJWyw

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 15, 2019 at 10:20 pm

      Yes–and Ayaan Hirsi Ali was also a victim.

  13. Ronyvo says

    Aug 16, 2019 at 6:50 am

    Such barbaric act has no place in the USA. Actually, the Human Rights advocates should work on illegalize FGM anywhere.

  14. OLD GUY says

    Aug 16, 2019 at 11:41 am

    YEA, for our Senator from Tennessee, FGM has no place in this country and should be outlawed nation wide. The will of the people should be heard loud and clear on this subject.

  15. Eric Jones says

    Aug 16, 2019 at 2:37 pm

    I hope this anti FGM law passes at the federal level. We must say no to Sharia.

    Eric

    • gravenimage says

      Aug 16, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Hear, hear!

  16. The Political Oracle says

    Aug 19, 2019 at 2:18 am

    Performing FGM should be classified as a form of rape since both are considered mutilation of genitalia. As one commentator said, this should not be a bipartisan issue. This is a no-brainer human rights issue. The United States signed on to the UN ICCPR to protect rights of the people. The United States should abide by what it signed an obligation to or pull out the weak socialist/communist UN ICCPR contract it signed.

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