Myth: For female genitalia, even a small nick can cause damage or trauma.

Fact: “De minimis procedures such as removal of the clitoral hood or a ritual nick on the external female genitalia cause little or no functional harm”.¹

Myth: The WHO’s definition of FGM is founded on the fact that there is evidence to show that all forms of genital cutting cause harm.

Fact: The WHO cannot advance a single clinical study showing Islamic female circumcision, that is a nick, cut or excision of the prepuce, is harmful.

Myth: Those fighting for the exclusion of female circumcision from the definition of FGM and its recognition as an unrelated practice are religious extremists who are personally invested in the narrative.

Fact: Eminent sociologists, gynaecologists and academics have asked for a review of the WHO’s classification that feeds false information to anti-FGM policies. Richard Schweder², Juliet Rogers³, Fuambai Ahmadu, Lucrezia Catania⁴, Brian Earp⁵, Sara Johnsdotter, Betinna Sheldon-Duncan et al, have widely written that anti-FGM policies are based largely on emotion and not on fact or scientific study, use narratives and labels that give false descriptions to women who choose to practice it, fail to deliver gender parity, fail to be sensitive to cultural norms, and label it patriarchal and abusive without real evidence.

Myth: Islamic female circumcision is much worse than male circumcision.

Fact: Outside of the sex of the person undergoing circumcision, there is very little difference between the organ that is affected in both male and female circumcision. The prepuce in females and the foreskin in males are homologous⁶. However, whilst Islamic female circumcision limits the practice to a nick or slight excision of the prepuce, male circumcision traditionally calls for the removal of a large part of the foreskin.

Myth: Female circumcision is meant to curb a woman’s sexuality.

Fact: The intention of circumcision is not to curb sexuality at all. Circumcision is practiced to adhere to the religious mandate of taharah (purity) and has roots in the Abrahamic tradition.

Myth: Women who have undergone circumcision are exposed to significant risks during childbirth.

Fact: Circumcision has no connection with childbirth.^{7 8} Only the prepuce is nicked; the birth canal is not touched nor impeded in any fashion.

Myth: Women who have undergone circumcision also suffer from impaired sex lives.

Fact: There is no anatomic reason to believe female circumcision (WHO Type 1a or 4) would negatively affect sexual functioning as Islamic female circumcision does not involve the clitoris and other sexually sensitive organs. Rather, clitoral unhooding, a reduction of the prepuce, is routinely carried out to increase sexual pleasure.^{9 10}

Myth: All girls are lied to before they are circumcised.

Fact: It is not accepted nor encouraged for young girls to be lied to about the significant religious experience of circumcision.

Myth: Circumcision is not mentioned in the Quran and is therefore a cultural, not religious, practice.

Fact: Neither male nor female circumcision is mentioned in the Quran. However, male and female circumcision are explicitly prescribed by the Prophet in the sunnah (Prophetic traditions).  Details for a broad range of Islamic practices are not explicitly mentioned or explicated in the Quran (including prayer, fasting, zakaah, hajj etc) but are accepted religious practice as they are detailed in the sunnah.