By: Nyima Sillah
The public discourse on the controversial anti-FGM legislation has reached a new height after the bill, seeking for its abrogation was thrown out of the House on Monday.
Divergence of perspectives on the bill became more apparent on Monday and days after it as Gambians from diverse social and occupational backgrounds argued in favour or against it.
Former Women’s Bureau executive director Aja Binta Jammeh-Sidibeh in her reaction to the rejection of the pro-FGM/C bill told The Voicethat its rejection was a guarantee of the safety of Gambian women and children. The former Women’s Bureau boss enthused that rights advocates in The Gambia have ultimately attained their goal of convincing lawmakers to uphold the anti-FGM law.
Mrs. Jammeh-Sidibeh explained that activists invested huge resources and energy in the attainment of their goal of upholding the FGM/C ban in The Gambia.
“We have done everything possible and we put all our resources into making this a success,” she stated, adding that their efforts have borne fruits, describing the bill’s rejection as a huge success for activists.
“FGM does not affect only women and children. I am elated it[bill] is going to protect women, girls and men. This [FGM/C] is not only forwomen and girls. Some men suffer from marrying women who have been circumcised. So, this has to do with both genders,” Madam Jammeh-Sidibeh highlighted.
Fiery Imam Sheikh Abdoulie Fatty, who has been relentlessly advocating for the repeal of the anti-FGM/C law, described the National Assembly as an international assembly, contending that the decision made by the House came from the West.
“The West colonized us and left. If today our Assembly is turned into an international assembly, we are going to try harder to bring it back to the national level. This decision is not the decision of our National Assembly Members. They knew the hard facts but theystill ignored the truth. Let them say that the West forced them to make this decision,” he stated.
He contended that the West’s “argument that female circumcision reduces girls’ sexual pleasure” has no basis, describing it as untrue, adding that despite the West’s view on the tradition, Westerners have been hightailing it to The Gambia to marry circumcised women and that they never complained of any deprivation of sexual pleasure.
“This is a clear manifestation that it’s all a lieand Western conspiracy. Let the lawmakers that supported the law just make it clear to Gambians that the West bribed them for the law to be maintained. They would have been deprived of West’s funds if they had not rejected the bill. They should be truthful to the people rather than bandying around falsehoods,” Imam Fatty argued.
“When next they [anti-FGM NAMs] come, it would be a homosexuality law under the guise of human rights. However, we the Muslim scholars will never relent in our preaching for the lifting of the FGM ban,” he added.
Women’s rights activist Fatou Baldeh said that Monday’s legislative vote against the pro-FGM bill would result in more gains in the advocacy for the advancement of the rights of women and girls, expressing the hope that more women would be inspired to seek elective political positions, especially legislative roles.
She told this reporter that the next step after the rejection of the bill should be implementation.
“We all know that this law was passed in 2015and it took eight years to secure a conviction,despite FGM being practiced within our communities. We also need to amplify efforts, work and educate communities on the impacts of FGM on women, girls, and communities,”stated Ms. Baldeh.
Foni Jarrol lawmaker Kebba Tumanding Sannehexpressed his disappointment in the outcome of the Monday parliamentary vote. He added that female circumcision is a tradition highly welcomed by his constituents.
“I cannot go against my people. I cannot tell them to stop the practice as it’s their choice. The majority of the people I spoke with have all supported the repeal of the law against the tradition,” he stressed.
To the Jarrol lawmaker, the decision to reject the pro-female circumcision bill should have been properly weighed as, according to him, many citizens “are currently not happy with the moveand blamed the members for failing to consult their electorates before making such a decision”.
“Members of Parliament should follow the dictates of their people and not donors or the government,” NAM Sanneh pointed out.