After Taher Fakhruddin, the claimant to the title of Syedna, denounced ‘khatna’ or female genital mutilation (FGM) in a public statement to the TOI on Saturday, Speak Out On FGM and Sahiyo-two groups comprising several women from the community who have been lobbying against khatna-came forward to welcome the leader’s stand.Fakhruddin had termed it “an un-Islamic and horrific practice”, adding that khafz (khatna) of girls should only be allowed after they attain legal adulthood, following which they are free to make their individual choice.
“Speak Out On FGM and Sahiyo welcome the statement by Taher Fakhruddin of the Fatemi Dawat, which calls for the disallowing of FGM of the girl child,” read the joint statement issued by both groups. Speak Out On FGM and Sahiyo also stressed that the rival leader speaking up on this issue should not be looked upon as a conspiracy to malign the Syedna of the dominant Dawoodi Bohra sect since these women had recently written to the leaderships of various sects within the Bohra community, including Fakhruddin of the Fatemi Dawat with a plea to “eradicate and eliminate” this practice, common among all Bohras.