Demystifying the practice of khafd in the Dawoodi Bohra community: a commentary on the WeSpeakOut report from India

Demystifying the practice of khafd in the Dawoodi Bohra community: a commentary on the WeSpeakOut report from India

Khan, Anika
Siddiq Shekhani, Sualeha
Jafarey, Aamir

English

20190100

In this commentary, we critique a recent report on female genital cutting (FGC) in the Indian Dawoodi Bohra community titled “The Clitoral hood a contested site: Khafd or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in India.” Published against the backdrop of possible legislation against FGC in India, the report makes good recommendations and is a useful addition to global literature on FGC. We critique specific sections of the document using relevant literature and informal conversations with the Bohra community in Pakistan, thereby highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. We also attempt to show that criminalising khafd by conflating it with more drastic forms of cutting may be counterproductive. In conclusion, education and activism from within the community may be more fruitful than the imposition of a law banning khafd.

9.5.5

9.5.5; 9.5.7; 10; 21.7; 1.2

circumcision [pri]; female [pri];

culture; informal social control; interviews; Muslims; medical ethics; religion; social control; women's health

India [pri]; Pakistan [pri]

Dawoodi Bohra; World Health Organization

female genital cutting; female genital mutilation; khafd

Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. 2019 January-March; 4(1): 65-70

Forum for Medical Ethics Society

j

20 refs.

0974-8466 (print); 0975-5691 (online)