What’s your view on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? You know. That traditional practice, usually from sections of the Muslim ‘community’ where little girls have their external genitalia removed. Call me old fashioned, but I regard FGM as serious child abuse and those who carry it out should be imprisoned forever, if not longer. They are the lowest of the low. However, one Conservative MP has blocked a private members bill which sought to make a one-line amendment to the Children Act 1989, that would “considerably extend protection to young girls at greatest risk of genital mutilation.” How could he do such a thing?
The aptly named ‘Sir’ Christopher Chope has history. He doesn’t like Private Members Bills full stop – this is the man who blocked a bill to make ‘up skirting’ illegal – and by shouting ‘Object’ at the end of the first reading in parliament, under its archaic rules, the bill dies a death. As does the credibility of parliament.
What is Chope thinking about? No one in their right mind can surely condone ‘cutting’ as some people call FGM. Without going too far into the gruesome details of FGM, it is a procedure that is not exactly subject to conventional medical rules. Indeed, it has been performed by people using scissors, a razor, a knife or even a sharp stone. Think about that: a girl, who is little more than a baby, having her external genitals removed without an anaesthetic and than have her nether regions literally sewn up. Surely stopping this happening – ever – is slightly more important than a quibble about how me make laws in this country? That is not what Chope is thinking.
I am not interested when apologists for FGM suggest it is part of some groups’ culture. I strongly oppose the very idea of multiculturalism because of things like this. Either a culture exists within the framework of the law of the land or it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t, then we cannot allow it to happen.
