Female Genital Mutilation and Islam’ resource launched by The Muslim Council of Britain, FORWARD and the Muslim Spiritual Care Provision

Thursday 19th June 2014

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), FORWARD (a UK based African women’s support and campaigning organisation) in association with The Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS (MSCP) have developed a resource about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Islam.

Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain has said:

“We at the MCB are pleased to work with FORWARD to address this very important issue of Female Genital Mutilation. Working closely together we can end this practice and ensure it is no longer linked to the religion of Islam or the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”

Whilst FORWARD’s Chair, Dr Soheir Elneil states:
“It is with great pleasure that we announce that the MCB and FORWARD has joined forces to launch a timely publication outlining the issues of FGM and Islam. This area of great complexity has hitherto been difficult to address, and this publication goes towards developing a greater understanding about how Islam's role in FGM is qualified. This is the first time such a publication has been achieved with the full cooperation and support of the relevant parties, and we hope all those working in FGM will find it a helpful tool in the work that they do.”
This resource states that FGM is NON-Islamic and is against the teachings of Islam, that it is putting the health of women and girls at risk and informs the reader of the legal implications in the UK of carrying out the practice.

FORWARD Trustee and Fellow at the Royal Society for Public Health, Dr Yunes Teinaz states:

“FGM is practised contrary to the teachings of Islam and is prohibited in the UK and most EU-countries. Many girls could be saved from their cruel fate, if there was more awareness among the community of the consequences of FGM. Let us make this possible by the joint work of FORWARD, MCB and religious leaders to build awareness about the negative consequences of FGM in the communities. We will continue to welcome any and every opportunity to raise our voices and to campaign against this illicit practice.’’

This resource in the form of a flyer will be widely distributed in mosques, in community centres, through the organisations who developed it and is available online here: www.forwarduk.org/news/641

Flyers have already been distributed to delegates who attended the Muslim Council of Britain’s Annual General Meeting on 15th June 2014, and arrangements are in hand to send a supply of leaflets to over 500 mosques and community centres.

ENDS
Notes to Editors:

1. FORWARD
• FORWARD’s key areas of work are: female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and related rights abuses of girls and women.
• FORWARD works in the UK, Europe and Africa to help change practices and policies that affect access, dignity and wellbeing. www.forwarduk.org.uk Twitter: @FORWARDUK
• For media enquiries please contact: Naomi Reid - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 020 8960 4000

2. Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)

• The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.

• For further information please contact: The Muslim Council of Britain, PO Box 57330, London, E1 2WJ - Tel: 0845 26 26 786, Fax: 0207 247 7079. Media enquiries: e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Follow MCB Interactive: Twitter: @MuslimCouncil , Facebook: www.facebook.com/muslimcouncil.uk Youtube: www.youtube.com/MuslimCouncil To unsubscribe, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. Muslim Spiritual Care Provision (MSCP)

• Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS is a joint project of NHS England and the Muslim Council of Britain. It now comes under the Health Inequalities and Diversity division and is managed by the Healthcare Chaplaincy Faith & Belief Group that is representative of all faiths groups. For the past ten years, the MSCP has organised training courses for Muslim Chaplains aspiring to work in the NHS.