The procedure, which also has been called female genital mutilation, includes the partial or full removal of external genitalia. It is incorrectly believed to control a woman’s sexuality and can cause serious bleeding
“If they succeed with this repeal, we know that they might come after the child marriage law and even the domestic violence law. This is not about religion but the cycle of controlling women and their bodies,” she said. Gambia’s former leader, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 in a surprise to activists and with no public explanation.
The chairperson of the local Center for Women’s Rights and Leadership, Fatou Jagne Senghore told the AP the bill is “aimed at curtailing women’s rights and reversing the little progress made in recent years.”