Tunisia protests Egypt sheikh who supports FGM

Hundreds of Tunisians protested the visit of Islamic cleric Wagdy Ghonem near the capital Tunis after Ghonem’s statements stirred anger among in the country. Ghonem, who was visiting the country, said statements in favor of female genital mutilation (FGM), which angered Tunisians strongly and drove them to the street to protest. The crowd held signs reading “Ghonem must leave,” “purify your mind and heart Ghonem” and “we don’t accept hate language.” Ghonem, who began his visit over the weekend, successfully brought together different groups to protest his visit, including young men and women who were offended by his support of the controversial practice of cutting a young girl’s genitalia. He was called an “extremist” and an “intruder.” Ghonem, who sadly has been referred to as the “Egyptian Sheikh Ghonem” called for Islamic law to be applied in Tunisia and called for the circumcision of girls. He also attacked liberals and secularists in harsh tones. Tunisian women, who were previously the most liberated and had the most rights of all women in the MENA region, are fearing losses of those rights with the growing of political Islam in the country. Amal Belhaj, editor of an online newspaper told AFP that a “growing culture in Tunisia is calling unveiled women ‘whores’.” She called on democratic countries to support Tunisian woman, who were never in such jeopardy before, “as her rights and position in culture seems to be disarraying.” According to the official Tunisian news agency, the health ministry in the country issued a statement condemning FGM, saying it is “a condemned practice that has nothing to do with our culture and society and has no positives for a woman’s health.” FGM is banned in Tunis and in neighboring countries like Egypt, yet conservatives who believe the habit promotes “virtue” do it anyway, often in unprepared clinics, causing many young girls to bleed to death or get serious infections. Al-Azhar, the Sunni’s world most respected institution, condemned the practice years ago and said it was “un-Islamic” and encouraged families to not have the procedure done on their daughters.