NGO takes on FGM in new film
|Over 200 million women have undergone some form of FGM globally; practice prevalent in Dawoodi, Alavi Bohra communities
A survivor-led non-profit organisation, WeSpeakOut, dedicated to ending female genital mutilation (FGM) through education, advocacy, and support for victims and families, has released a short film exploring the centuriesold practice within India’s Bohra community. The film, titled ‘The Dilemma,’ addresses the practice of ‘khafz,’ where a young girl’s clitoral hood is cut, potentially damaging her genitals and impacting her future sex life.
The Dilemma is a Gujarati short film that offers a nuanced and humanising look at the complex emotional conflict faced by parents in the Bohra community, where FGM is deeply entrenched as a social norm and perceived as a religious requirement. The film follows a Bohra couple grappling with whether to subject their young daughter to khafz and its potential physical, sexual, and psychological consequences. Through thoughtful dialogue, the film fosters understanding between believer and non-believer perspectives, underscoring that sustainable change must come from within the community.
Masooma Ranalvi, an FGM survivor and the founder of WeSpeakOut, said, “With this film, we aim to open hearts and minds through authentic storytelling that resonates with the community still bound by this harmful tradition. We want young parents to know that you can love your community, respect your elders, and still choose not to cut your daughters. We want them to educate themselves first.”
According to the NGO, over 200 million girls and women globally have undergone some form of FGM. In India, the practice remains prevalent, particularly among the Dawoodi and Alavi Bohra communities, with evidence suggesting that a certain Sunni-Muslim sect in Kerala also performs FGM on infant girls. Abolishing FGM is one of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Dr Hannah Nazri, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with National Health Service England, said, “The practice of FGM is a violation of human rights and has no health benefits whatsoever. The clitoral hood of a developing seven-year-old is highly sensitive and connected to the body. Any nicking, pricking, or cutting of the clitoral glands causes immense pain and damages growing tissue, with potentially serious repercussions in adulthood.”
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to ban the practice, with Ranalvi serving as an intervening petitioner in the matter. The short film, in Gujarati and subtitles in English, has already garnered over 2.3k views on YouTube.
We aim to open hearts, minds with storytelling that resonates with the community still bound by this harmful tradition
Masooma Ranalvi
Founder of WeSpeakOut