Readers frown at female genital mutilation

isaac dachen

July 13, 2016 11:00 AM

Readers say they will prefer being sent out of their marriages rather than allow their baby daughters to be circumcised.

Who can rescue this crying woman? (Illustration)

Racheal Amaka is one reader who would prefer to be sent out of husbands house rather than have her female child circumcised.

Her response is just one of many who have all frowned at female genital mutilation as advocated by Maureen'smother-in-law, who has given her an ultimatum to either give up her baby daughter to be circumcised or be ready to pack out of her husband's house.

Read Maureen's letter here:

"I am Maureen and I have been married for eight years but that once lovely marriage is being threatened by the insistence of my mother-in-law that my baby daughter must be circumcised so that in the future, she would not become promiscuous.

I have had three sons in quick succession and I prayed that the next one should be a girl and God in His infinite mercies, answered my prayers and my Angel cam two months ago. Being my first and probably my only daughter, I have vowed to protect and love her with every beat of my heart.

But my mother-in-law is now proving to be the fly in that ointment as she has maintained that I must go with her to the village to get my daughter circumcised. I have told her and even my husband, Osondu, who seems to be in agreement with his mother, that what they are planning to do is called Female Genital Mutilation and instead of curbing the so called promiscuity.

I made it clear to them that long term consequences of what they are planning to do include complications during childbirth, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, painful sexual intercourse, sexual dysfunction and an increased risk of HIV infection but they tell me that I have allowed my education to cloud my my sense of tradition.

Now she has given me an ultimatum that if I refuse to allow my daughter to be circumcised, I will have to leave her son's house. The funny thing is that Osondu seems aloof and agrees with his mother.

But I have vowed to protect my child and even at the risk of being thrown out of my home, I will never allow her to be mutilated.

Do you think I am taking the right decision?

Maureen."

The teaser for the day was:

Ultimatum: Would you prefer your daughter being circumcised or being thrown out your home?

How Nigeria voted:

I will rather be thrown out of the home - 77%

I will gladly allow my daughter to be circumcised - 24%

How would you vote here?

isaac dachen