Mauritania: Fatwa alone will not stop FGM/C
A recent fatwa banning female genital mutilation/cutting in Mauritania will help reduce the practice only if religious leaders take the message to the people, scholars and anti-FGM/C activists say.
Given the widespread practice of FGM/C in Mauritania and the belief that it is imposed by Islam - families cut their girls “as Allah wishes", one woman said upon hearing of the fatwa - convincing people to stop will take time and engagement from religious leaders.
