Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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Thousands of Greater Manchester girls at risk from illegal circumcision by family


Thousands of schoolgirls across Greater Manchester could be at risk of mutilation at the hands of their families this summer, experts have warned.
Girls as young as six from across the region are likely to be taken abroad over the holidays for female circumcision – a custom practised among some African and Middle Eastern communities.
Authorities believe others may even undergo the illegal procedure at home, with ‘cutters’ – women who perform the operation – operating in secret or flown in through Manchester Airport.
Greater Manchester is known to be one of the top six places in Britain where the illegal procedure is carried out and campaigners are desperate to stamp it out.
They say the six-week holidays are a key time when girls are at risk – as it gives them the longest time to heal, without raising suspicions at school.
Viewed in the West as barbaric, female circumcision is seen by many in Somali, Egyptian and Sudanese and Middle Eastern communities as essential to preserve a girl’s purity and honour.
But it is also known to lead to a range of health risks, from infections to HIV and can even be fatal.
The procedure is carried out without anaesthetic, usually by a woman with no formal medical training using a knife or razor.
Because secrecy surrounds the practice, campaigners say teachers can play a key role if they learn the warning signs that a girl may be at risk.
So-called ‘red flags’ include girls talking about holidays where they will ‘become a woman’ or ‘become just like my mum and sister’.
Girls who have had the procedure performed will often avoid exercise on their return to school and ask to go to the toilet more often because of their discomfort.
Campaigner Jaria Hussain-Lala is chair of the Greater Manchester FGM Forum, which brings together police officers and charities to support victims.
She said: "People from communities who practise this may prefer to call it cutting, or circumcision – but let’s not flower it up, it is mutilation.
"It is a form of domestic and honour-based violence and has huge health implications.
"We know around 24,000 women and girls have undergone this in Britain, although this number is likely to be a lot higher because it is kept so secret.
"Greater Manchester one of six hotspots for it so there could be thousands of women and girls affected here.
"It’s essential that teachers, doctors and other professionals learn the warning signs that a girl might be at risk.
"We are trying to find out more about how it is carried out here in Greater Manchester at the moment and whether women are being flown in from abroad to carry it out.
"Because a lot of the communities who are practising this are relatively new in this country, there’s the element of distrusting authorities because they want to preserve their traditions."
While circumcision is mainly practised on girls between six and 15, women may also undergo the procedure before marriage or even just before giving birth.
Immediate health risks include infection, HIV and hepatitis C, as the same razor is often used on many girls.
Long-term risks include kidney and urinary infection and problems giving birth along with long-lasting psychological trauma.
Because of its illegality, many women and girls who develop health problems avoid hospitals and doctors, seeking help from ‘healers’ or back-street clinics.
THE VICTIM:
FATOU is 22 and lives in Rochdale with her three-year-old son. Born in the Ivory Coast, she fled after being forced to undergo circumcision and came to Britain.
She said: "It happened when I was 18. My mum had been very protective of me and made sure I didn’t get circumcised because she was against it, but couldn’t say so openly.
"I was hoping to come to Britain to study at university and she had helped me get a travel visa.
"But then my dad found out and decided that I could not go abroad unmarried. He arranged for me to become the third wife of a man in his 40s.
"This man’s family found out I had never been circumcised and it caused a scandal.
"Before the wedding, my arms and legs were tied down and I was beaten for resisting.
"An old woman from my husband’s family used a sharp knife to cut me.
"It was very, very painful and there was a lot of bleeding. I didn’t receive any medical attention. After that my husband didn’t care about the pain I was in and kept abusing me.
"I was so unhappy I tried to commit suicide.
"I had given my sister my passport to hide and she arranged for me to escape to Britain while I still had my visa.
"I started English classes and there I met someone and we started a relationship.
"He didn’t like that I was circumcised and I think that is one of the reasons we split up while I was pregnant.
"When my son was born I was so relieved he was not a girl who might have to go through what I had.
"Four years on, I am still in pain sometimes and have scars I don’t even like a doctor to see.
"I can never go back to the Ivory Coast and have applied for asylum here.
"I am on my own with my son but think I will never want to be in a relationship again."
(Fatou’s name has been changed to protect her identity)
THE CAMPAIGNER:
PEGGY Mulongo works for charity New Steps for the African Community.
She trains doctors, nurses and medical students at hospitals and universities across Greater Manchester to help women who have undergone female circumcision.
She is also setting up new support groups in Rochdale, Salford and North Manchester and runs youth groups to educate teenagers on the health risks.
She said: "It is important not to condemn families but to educate them about the health risks , that it’s a form of abuse and illegal.
"We have heard of people taking their daughters to Bolton to have it done but I think most travel abroad.
"It is very secretive. Women will never tell you who carried it out and children want to protect their parents. But when women start sharing their stories there are a lot of tears.
"I am convinced that educating teenagers is key to ending the practice in this country. They can persuade their parents and stand up against it happening to their younger siblings.
"There are signs of progress, but we still have a lot to do."
THE POLICE OFFICER:
SERGEANT Nita Jhanji-Garrod works in the public protection division of Greater Manchester Police.
The force conducts outreach work amongst communities who carry out female circumcision – but like the rest of the country, there has never been a single conviction for carrying it out. She said: "We treat it as a form of honour-based violence.
"There is a real feeling that it is not something to go to the police about, that it should be sorted out within the community or at home.
"Because it is illegal, it has really pushed underground.
"But we are really wanting to raise awareness of the practice and encourage more people to report it. We have done outreach work within the Somali community and I feel so far we have only scratched the surface of the issue.
"We’re hoping to do more outreach work within schools to raise awareness as it is young girls who will be affected by it.
"If you wish to discuss the issues we Greater Manchester Police have trained specialist officers who can support you on 0161 872 5050."

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1584325_thousands-of-greater-manchester-girls-at-risk-from-illegal-circumcision-by-family

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What has this got to do with nationalism?
Last chance.

NWN Admin said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What has this got to do with nationalism?
Last chance.

25 July 2012 15:50
==================================

Are you having a laugh ?

Anonymous said...

We are being enriched !

Anonymous said...

We got muslims rapeing white kids ,and muslims trying to blow up whites ,but you talk about this crap ,what has this got to do with loyalists ? We dont give a shit if they cut there fannys off.....redhand

Anonymous said...

Loyalists ?

Ae you sure your on the right website here ?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
We are being enriched !

Yes, and it's only costing the British taxpayer an arm and a leg!

Anonymous said...

And they're off... first athlete claims asylum: African middle-distance runner held after disappearing from training camp

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2179037/First-Olympics-2012-athlete-claims-asylum-African-middle-distance-runner-held-police-Leeds.html#ixzz21jfJxJ5w

GWR said...

Anonymous said...

We got muslims rapeing white kids ,and muslims trying to blow up whites ,but you talk about this crap ,what has this got to do with loyalists ? We dont give a shit if they cut there fannys off.....redhand

26 July 2012 10:01
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So we have all the immigrants coming here doing their disgusting practises and you want to bang on about Muslims ?

These might well be muslims !

We want NONE of these new immigrants, even the newly arrived Polish.

This is NOT a sectarian site and we are not just about muslims.

Henry said...

It's time the ''Loyalists'' did something about their diversity loving Queen cos she and her family haven't been very ''loyal'' to the people of the these Isles for about 300 years.

Go wave your Union Flag elsewhere. That's if you can wrestle one from the thousands of savages who'll be wrapping themselves in such arsewipe apparel at the ZION games these next few weeks.

House of Orange?...You're havin' a laugh!

Fuck off back to Holland and take the Queen and the Bank of England with you.

Anonymous said...

diversity loving queen? last time i looked, the royal family were european white, we know and you know, this invasion of our shores is out of her hands, her goverment'past and present have welcomed these aliens to our shores, and the liberel left, centre right tory traitors who vote every 4 yrs, i reckon henry is only loyal to he's local 7 days a week. 'english loyalist'

GWR said...

I wouldn't rattle HENRYs cage if I were you.

You would need an elaborate knowledge of nationalism and all it's facets.

Henry said...

Anon said:

''diversity loving queen? last time i looked, the royal family were european white...''

I don't know what you mean?

Diversity isn't a person it's a Sociologicol concept

Perhaps you were thinking of Princess Di-versity who left her dolt of a husband for the thrust of an Arab stallion....well the son of a smelly shopkeeper from Egypt actually, but it must have seemed like an improvement after Charles came out as a ''tampon'' and disappeared up Camilla's hole?

I might mention the Royal Family's role in establishing the Commonwealth, especially with the giving of a crucial commitment to India, but you wouldn't believe any of it, and I know you move your lips when you read so it's bound to wear you out.

Do you like pictures?

No...I don't mean tattoos!

I've put together some moving pictures for you to watch and as you're a ''Loyalist'' I thought I'd start with the recent meeting of the Queen and her Danish/Polish/Greek consort pressing the flesh with IRA terrorist Martin McGuinness.

I hope you enjoy it cos the Queen and Philip looked like they did:

The Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfXwDUTszT0

Here's some others to enjoy while you're waiting for our people to be replaced in your Queens affections.

Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Diversity of Faiths in UK

http://tv.ibtimes.com/queen-elizabeth-celebrates-diversity-of-faiths-in-uk/3600.html

The Queen's Commonwealth Day Message 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqFYRihMoVE

Queen of Multicultural Britain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akDh5h0UeZE

Prince Charles ''Unity through diversity a great strength for Britain''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpsvCAIenr8

Prince of Wales speech titled: ''Islam and the Environment'' mentions his idea of ''Unity through diversity'' again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBoG7QUfq9s&feature=related

Prince of Wales speaks in support of Islam at Oxford

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7TmEzFAJmE&feature=related

Prince William Dancing in the Hood,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLUFrwK1ZnY

Prince Harry Dancing With The Local People Of Jamaica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9FY1n16vnk&feature=related

Henry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.