Government should act to abolish Sharia courts

FGM is an appalling practice and I hope all GNs will support the campaigns against it. But, I don't think it helps to mix it up with sharia or indeed with Islam. It is (unfortunately) practised in a number of places by women of all faiths, including traditional and animist beliefs. It is not part of Islam. Same with child brides - young girls are married too early in a number of cultures for social and economic, not religious, reasons.

Here's a link to another article specifically about Somalia. There's a large Somali community in this country.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/07/female-genital-mutilation-tradition-somalia

NSPCC are trying for prosecution for FGM this year, Iam64.

Here's a link to a relevant article that I've just posted on the child bride thread:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415492/Dentist-Omar-Addow-struck-offering-perform-female-genital-mutilation-girls.html

I live, and have worked in areas of the north with large Muslim Pakistani communities. Increasing numbers of African asylum seekers are also settling here. I posted on another thread that in the main, we seem to all live in relative peace but these issues about FGM and the oppression of women and girl children are significant. I agree, we aren't helped by extreme views from either the right, or the left. George Galloway spoke in our town after 9/ll and didn't challenge the local Imam who insisted the USA and the Jews were behind 9/ll and it had nothing to do with any one with an Islamic background. The EDL marches and attacks on Mosques are frightening.
How can it be that no-one in this country has been prosecuted for FGM? Why is it so difficult for us to have an open, and balanced discussion about cultural differences?

Penstemmon - I agree with you entirely.

greatnan I appreciate and support concerns about traditional and cultural oppression of women and have actively campaigned against FGM and forced marriage (Not specifically Islamic as I think you know)
I have argued with Muslim fathers who wanted to withdraw daughters from PE/swimming and won!

However if this 'paper' is an organ of a right wing or extreme left wing organisation and is trying to incite anger against Muslims per se that is a very different situation and unhelpful.

I just want to know more about the credentials of the publication. Also I have several Muslim family members, friends and acquaintances who dread dramatic 'red top ' anti Islam style headlines as it often gives rise to indiscriminate aggression against their community and to them as individuals.

Of course the oppression of women needs to be discussed and challenged. If it is being hidden behind the skirts of a religion then the leaders of that religion need to hear the arguments and disapproval and know that it cannot continue.

I don't base my views on that paper, but on widespread reports of women and girls being badly treated in the UK as well as in other countries.

www.loonwatch.com/2012/09/dispatch-international-counterjihad-publishes-a-paper/

It appears the paper could be an extreme right wing group hard to find much about it other than the link above.

You think she is stirring ? If I had fled the Sudan I don't think I would have been so public about joining an ex Muslim group but then I'm a coward

Bit odd that there seems to be no links to this story in a British newspaper.

And the only info I can see on the web about this woman is that she is a celebrated muslim atheist.

It seems to be all Facebook and Twitter.

Don't get me wrong. I am against sharia law being practised in this country - or anywhere really. But I would like a more evenly balanced article about it.

If you read through to the end you can see how the laws were not working for this young woman

Jingle, have you bothered to read the link? The law is turning a blind eye to the routine oppression of women in the guise of 'culture'. It is only recently that anything has been done about the young teenage girls who were forced into marriage to a much older man, often a relative.

There are already laws to protect people from anything a Sharia court might dish out. Why stir up more trouble?