Deputy Speaker asks committee to review decision to seek opinion on female circumcision

Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Eva Abdulla has sought to review the human rights and gender committee’s proposal to seek the opinion of relevant authorities on Female Genital Mutilation.

Speaking during Wednesday’s sitting, Eva revealed that the purpose of seeking to review the proposal is because she finds it unnecessary and uncalled for to seek the opinion and deliberate on the matter. She stressed that the chair does not have the power to turn away committee decisions, however, an appeal may always be made to review committee decisions.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the human rights and gender committee, the issue of Dr. Mohamed Iyaz encouraging Female Genital Mutilation was placed on the agenda. This is the case submitted to the committee earlier by MP for south-Galolhu constituency MP Meekail Naseem.

Addu Meedhoo constituency MP Rozaina Adam revealed that this is a topic of extensive discussions currently. She stressed that this might lead to the community which does not accept female circumcision, to begin supporting the practice. With this being said Rozaina noted that a permanent solution is required swiftly.

South-Fuvahmulah constituency MP Mohamed Mumthaz backed Rozaina’s proposal. During the deliberations all MPs agreed upon seeking the opinions and thoughts of relevant authorities in connection to the matter. Holhudhoo MP Yoonus Ali proposed to seek the Fiqh Academy as it is the institution to have the last say in connection to religious issues.

Further, Makunudhoo MP Mohamed Raaee also proposed to seek thoughts of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) on the issue.

Committee chair, Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood proposed to seek the progress of the work by the Attorney General’s office on banning the practice in the Maldives.

While the practice is deemed harmful according to global experts, the committee also proposed to seek the Health Ministry’s say on the matter.

The committee has since decided to seek official documents from the Fiqh Academy, Ministry of Health, HRCM as well as the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in connection to the matter. Further the committee also passed to acquire official statements from the Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, on work being conducted to ban the practice in the Maldives. In November 2020, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath had announced efforts to declare Female Genital Mutilation a criminal offense in the Maldives.

After the documents are attained, meetings will be held with the relevant institutions to engage in deliberations to reach a resolve on the issue.

This was triggered after Dr. Iyaz, assistant professor at Maldives National University and Islamic scholar, posted a Tweet, attaching a link that shared medical benefits of female circumcision in Islam.

MP Meekail, submitting the case, noted that Dr. Iyaz has encouraged FGM and stressed that someone who supports such dangerous and risky actions filling responsible positions at state institutions poses threats to women across the country and poses challenges to the protection of women’s rights.

In a reply to the Islamic scholar’s Tweet, Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi wrote that Islamic teachings do not back the act of female circumcision and that it has never been done in the history of Maldives.

Dr. Iyaz was on the receiving end of immense public criticism for the Tweet, to which he responded that it was based on research and that such issues will not be resolved through submitting cases at Majlis and pressuring authorities to dismiss him from his position.

The Islamic scholar had been suspended for a period of 14 days due to a similar incident in the past where he made a post on social media. Following his suspension Dr. Iyaz had filed a case at the Employment Tribunal, against MNU.

UNICEF studies have also indicated that every one out of 10 Maldivian women have undergone the procedure.