Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision, a deadly traditional practice has been common to most of the Islamic countries. Despite the fact that Muslim scholars find no Islamic basis for this inhuman practice, still it is very much rooted in the Muslim culture. Many innocent girls right from the age of 3-months to 10-years have to die every year of Female Genital Mutilation.

‘Rabat Declaration’ made at the first Islamic childhood conference, held at Moroccan capital laid emphasis on female genital mutilation and other harmful practices discriminating girls, underlining it is against Islam. A strong-worded declaration condemning FGM, was issued in this conference.

The declaration urged the Muslim Countries practicing FGM to ‘take the necessary measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all harmful traditional or customary practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.” The protection of children “from all forms of exploitation, abuse, torture and violence” was high on the Ministers’ agenda.

I think the countries took pretty too long to come to a conclusion like this. We have already lost so many innocent lives. So many girls have fallen prey to this very shameful aspect of the society. Around 130 million women have already come across FGM, further calculation shows around 2 million girls suffer every year which comes to 6,000 innocent girls going through the torture everyday.

I hope somebody is reading it...somebody who can put an end to this fatal truth of life. A truth - that has become a part and parcel of the Muslim culture. Do they have any basis for this unbearable torture?

I hope ‘Rabat Declaration’ is the beginning for a new tomorrow that will be free of any kind of torture, pain and inhuman practices against females.