http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm - http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm

This site explains the problem quite well.  I believe for most women, a circumcision of the clitoral hood is not the issue.  It is the complete clitoridectomey or excision that becomes the issue.  That practice is harmful to the woman. Also there are other forms of FGM that are even more radical that include surgically sealing off the area by sewing together the labia, only leaving a small opening for urine to escape.  These practices allow for infections to set in and cause problems in many other facets.  They totally prevent a woman from enjoying what is a very sacred act with her husband. 

This practice is wrongly thought to be an islamic phenomenon but is also practiced by non Judeo Christian groups as well as ethic groups later converted to Judeo Christian religions, ie Judism, Christianity and Islam.

http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm#a11 - http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/femgen/fgm1.htm#a11

For a woman or even an older girl to make the decision to be circumcised would not be an issue, but for a young child to be held down and butchered with a piece of glass is not what God would want done to his creations.  There are stark differences between circumcision and mutilation, you'll need to understand the difference to accurately and knowledgeably discuss this subject.

Begbie, as a woman I am opposed to FGM, but you need to stop coming in here and insulting the others.  Try making an informed arguement filled with medical citations and informed respectful religious arguements.  This is a subject that is very much opinion based on many levels and everyone has a right to their own opinion.  Please do get insulting when someone posts an opinion that is opposing your opinion.

Angela 

Begbie wrote: You can argue about the degree of mutilation all you like, the only real difference is in the semantics.

There is a big difference.  You are talking the difference between circumcision and castration.  There is a HUGE difference here. 

And there is no real medical reason for circumcision either.  Yet, my son, God willing, if he is ever born, will be circumcised.  Why? because God commanded it. 

Not every thing done has to be for medical reasons.

There are many reasons people do things, cultural, aesthetic, religious, or mental illness. 

There are practices around the world that include piercings, ritual tattoos, ritual scaring, filing down the teeth to a straight line so as to remove an visage of an animal appearance, binding of feet to make them smaller and more attractive.  You really cannot make sense of every cultural practice based off of medical praticality.

FGM is a practice that will fade with increased education in those areas.  Women in those areas are starting to stand up for themselves and fight to make the changes.  They are banding together to stop the abuse and rapes.  They have to do it, no one else can force it on them.