Circumcision / Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Obituary: Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian women's rights activist

Defiant icon of the Arab women's movement

Nawal El-Saadawi has died in Cairo at the age of 89. The prominent doctor, activist and author became internationally known for her outcry against female genital mutilation and honour killings. In recent years, however, her defence of the Sisi regime also drew criticism. By Karim El-Gawhary
#MeToo and Muslim women

Danish author Sara Omar – Breaking taboos for Muslim women

Born amid the horrors of war in Iraqi Kurdistan, Danish author Sara Omar now uses her voice to denounce violence inflicted on women in the name of reactionary Islam, a "calling" that has left her living under police protection
Jews and Muslims in dialogue

"Jews are being used to create anti-Muslim feeling"

Through their "Dialogue Perspectives" programme, the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich and Avicenna academic foundations promote discourse between Jewish and Muslim scholarship holders. In an interview with Ursula Russmann, Rachel de Boor and Hani Mohseni talk about new alliances between their communities – and why the majority of society wants to see devout Jews, but liberal Muslims
Azerbaijanʹs struggle to promote the value of girls

Imams against sex-selective abortion

Azerbaijan is struggling to change the mind-sets of families aborting female foetuses. Imams who have weighed in on the issue have become indispensable in up-ending this practice. Experts say the country urgently needs to implement an action plan or it will face dire consequences. Ayse Karabat reports from Baku
Female genital mutilation in Egypt

Using comedy to combat a cruel tradition

The group "HaraTV" in Egypt uses theatre to try to enlighten people about female genital mutilation. Elisabeth Lehmann attended one of their performances
Exhibition: "SNIP IT! Stances on Ritual Circumcision"

An objective examination of a controversial issue

With its exhibition "SNIP IT! Stances on Ritual Circumcision", the Jewish Museum in Berlin offers surprising and diverse insights into the significance of a ritual about which few people in Germany know very much at all. Igal Avidan went to see the exhibition
Genital mutilation in Egypt

Control over female sexuality

Egypt is the only country in North Africa where the practice of female genital mutilation remains widespread – despite an official ban and many public information campaigns for women. Anna Kölling reports from Cairo
Debate about Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt

The Ongoing Battle for the Female Body

Although the forbidden practice of female genital mutilation has nothing to do with Islam, Egypt's Islamists are determined to have it legalised once again. The consequences for Egypt's women would be disastrous. By Margot Badran