Egyptian Member of Parliament Encourages Women To Undergo Female Genital Mutilation To “Reduce Their Sexual Desires” To Match “Sexually Weak” Egyptian Men

We have yet another story highlighting the horrific abuse faced by women in many Muslim countries. Egyptian member of parliament Elhamy Agina this month has reportedly encouraged women to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) to “reduce their sexual desires.” His rationale for this primitive abuse is particularly bizarre: women must mutilate themselves to lower sexual desires to match that of Egypt’s “sexually weak” men.

In most societies, Agina would be dismissed as a moronic clown, but Egypt continues to struggle with systemic abuse of women and girls, including child brides, arranged marriages, FGM, and honor killings. His twisted logic shows how dismissive leaders can be over the horrific pain and loss of victims of FGM.

Agina insisted “We are a population whose men suffer from sexual weakness, which is evident because Egypt is among the biggest consumers of sexual stimulants that only the weak will consume. If we stop FGM, we will need strong men and we don’t have men of that sort.”

The parliamentarian believes the solution is mutilation so FGM can “reduce[] a woman’s sexual appetite” and women “stand by their men.”

Article 242 of Egypt’s Penal Code criminalizes the circumcision of girls and the punishment for performing FGM is a prison sentence ranging from three months to two years or a fine of EGP 5,000. Yet, According to the 2015 Egypt Health Issues Survey (EHIS), around 9 in 10 women aged 15-49 have undergone FGM.