Our Early History: Fauziya Kassindja's Legal Victory

Tahirih Justice Center Founder and Executive Director Layli Miller-Muro introduces you to Fauziya Kassindja, a teenage girl who fled Togo in fear of a forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Her precedent-setting case spurred the launch of the Tahirih Justice Center in 1997.

[Gretelsbetterhalf]

Reading ‘Do They Hear You When You Cry?’ now and it’s so moving. Thank you, Fauziya, for telling your story and being brave.

[leroypandi]

Very emotional, inspiring and encouraging. Love you Fauziya, Yaya's baby girl..

[naturalworld]

You & Fauzia are great woman ... The biography is a touching story ❤❤❤

[sabinahoque]

I love ..LOVE the book, and both you and Fauziya!

[tanyatressler]

I became so emotional reading this outstanding book back in '98...WOW..I learned alot! Opened my eyes! Why oh why are there so many atrocities against women? Thank you for this honest thought-provoking book..can't get it out of my mind after all these years..such a brave woman and brave lawyer also <3

[anitakatdare]

Yes... I love the book ... love you Fauziya..love you Layli ...

[Yanglaoshi.]

I am reading the book right now and I am deeply touched by her bonding with her father. I am looking forward to reading more then.

[geoffmitchell]

A very moving account of one young ladies fight against a cultural practice that really beggers belief. But what moved me most was the incredible treatment of Fauziya and others by the American Immigration authorities and those who should have known better. I was very angry but thank God for Fauziya´s courage and triumph over adversity. I want to hug you!.What a wonderful team of lawyers.

[maria-teresanogueira]

I also loved the book. Good courage for the current bad time. Love you Fauziya and Layli.I am a portuguese woman and my rights are mostly respected but I belong to Amnesty International  and therefore I am most worried about the way the world is going back. I hope you may proceed the defense of your rights

[kittyrudman]

Read the book when it was in hardback having been to Togo in 1978. Almost the most incredible story was when the prison had a riot right before her case.. Was looking Fauziya up as I have started reading Transcendent Kingdom and wondered whatever happened to her.

[maryamsumer]

my thesis would aruge Fauziys kassindja autobigoraphy, so inspiring !

[mwasakafyukasamson]

i read the book with tears ! amazing sorry for every women who undergo FGM !~

[Samer-vjcu]

FGM is not an Islamic practice. The Prophet Muhammad pbh strictly forbade any practice against woman. It’s only a culture within regions who use religion for their own cultural interests.

[ricosuave]

Just saw a recent news story about a female doctor in Michigan performing FGM on girls. How sickening.