Peer-reviewed article
Female Genital Mutilation practiced by Dawoodi Bohras of Pakistan
Soh Bhattacharya ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This paper examines female genital mutilation (FGM) as practiced by the Dawoodi Bohra community in Pakistan, where it is performed as a religious and cultural rite linked to notions of purity and social acceptance. The practice causes immediate and long-term physical and psychological harm, including severe pain, infection, and trauma. Despite global efforts to eliminate FGM, it persists in this insular community due to deeply held beliefs. The paper highlights Pakistan's lack of an effective legal framework to combat the practice and discusses its impact on women's and children's health and rights.
Key points
- FGM is practiced by Dawoodi Bohras in Pakistan as a religious and cultural rite
- The practice is justified through notions of purity and social acceptance within the community
- Physical and psychological effects include severe pain, infection, and psychological trauma
- Pakistan lacks an effective legal framework to combat FGM
- The insular nature of the community contributes to persistence of the practice despite global eradication efforts
Limitations
This paper describes the practice and its harms but does not provide quantitative data on prevalence, incidence rates, or the effectiveness of any interventions to reduce FGM. The document does not evaluate any specific programme or policy response.
Abstract
This paper examines the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among the Dawoodi Bohra community in Pakistan. FGM, a non-therapeutic alteration of the female genitalia, is examined through the lenses of religion, culture and health. The Dawoodi Bohra, predominantly based in Karachi, practice FGM as a religious and cultural rite, linking it to notions of purity and social acceptance. Despite global efforts to outlaw and eradicate FGM, it persists, underpinned by deeply held beliefs and the insular nature of the community. The physical and psychological effects of FGM are profound, leading to immediate and long-term complications such as severe pain, infection and psychological trauma. This paper discusses the impact of these practices on women’s health and rights, while critiquing the lack of an effective legal framework in Pakistan to combat FGM. In addressing this issue, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on gender-based violence and the rights of women and children in patriarchal societies.