What is FGM and why is it practised?

Shamsa Sharawe was born in Somalia, where she was subjected to female genital mutilation aged 6. Scared by this experience, Shamsa was then brought to the UK and navigated her life there, slowly realising what happened to her.

Trying to come to terms with it all, Shamsa went back to Somalia aged 17, but was forced into a marriage, which resulted in sexual and physical abuse.

Warning: this episode contains content you may find distressing.

We speak to people with a unique life story to tell. From a North Korea escapee to an undercover cop, a Cold War spy to a shipwreck survivor. Hosted by LADbible's Ben-Powell Jones, this series is a window into remarkable experiences – with stories that paint a picture of extraordinary lives.

Thanks to Shamsa for taking part! Follow her charity Garden of Peace, her youth work and love for truth and healing.
Instagram: shamsaaraweelo

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[Nowseeit]

Am from Somalia and fgm was done to me it’s exactly how it happened to me as well i feel like she telling my story in detail it’s so scary how similar is our story are. It’s exactly the same steps that is happened to me. Fgm is something so hard to forget i got it when i was 5 and now am 20 and I remember it like it was yesterday. Fgm is inhumane thing to do and it needs to stop. Thank you for sharing your story and our story.

[Sabine-rn]

FGM (female genital mutilation) originated from ancient, pre-Islamic, and non-religious cultural practices that developed in various regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and have been perpetuated for cultural, social, and, in some cases, mistakenly religious reasons.

[fairymermaid]

this is still an ongoing practice so it needs to be talked about it's so wrong 😔

[sophiadbell]

It’s just terrible and still some country’s still do it to women. They think that doing it on women would make them look more attractive to men but that’s not the case. It’s just terrible.

[arfriedman]

It makes me sad and angry this is still going on today.

I'm so glad people are speaking about fgm and doing something to stop fgm.

[fa-viqu]

Rape and sexual abuse has nothing to do with victims in this case.. this is not done to control others to not rape women or sexually assault them, rest of the reasons is correct.

[PurpleGold.]

It’s definitely about religion. You know, the one where they are “encouraged” to “cover themselves”.

[varungowda]

Islam and Christianity ?

Damn these two communities

[ianblake]

“One of the reasons is religious and religion has nothing to do with it” solid logic 😂

[irshadhussainnarejo]

It is mentioned but its not obligatory for women but circumcision for men is obligatory in Islam

[saturn]

God send me to Mars.... I'll live peacefully This is barbaric. No way I'm going to respect culture like this

[manikaur]

No it’s not religious man made and humans are trying to take place of god by changing his creation or by modifying his creation 😢

[ckhafagiuk]

Was also done to female slaves in ancient rome but instead of cutting they were closed up with something like a safety pin

[BasedBlack-kofv]

FGM is specifically promoted in the Islamic Hadith. So today, there IS an Islamic basis for it.

[Nic-kxdn]

Don't mutilate, venerate, respect for all.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[cornjulio]

What is the difference between this and circumcision?

[petrasomeone]

It's done in africa and the middle east. Not all over the world. Well it's happening now with all the islamic immigrants.

[EmmaThomas-sv]

no uh uh our prophet didnt do it nor told us to do it it isnt in islam it is in cultures

[winston]

It's a wicked idea brought out by Satan

[manikaur]

It’s violence god didnot made any rules or tradition he loves natural it’s trama for babies and you cut them against their wills which is a crime