Circumcision of girls in Indonesia (12 photos)
<p>Today, female circumcision is common in 30 countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Female circumcision doctors say there are many reasons for doing the procedure, from religious beliefs to preventing cervical cancer. However, these are not good enough reasons to endanger the health of a woman, and in particular, a child. Often the healing process takes a long time and can be ambiguous. The procedure itself can cause bleeding and infertility, and sometimes even death. In honor of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, 284 families from Jakarta received material funds for their daughters to take part in the mass circumcision ceremony. Numerous photo contest winner Stephanie Sinclair attended the ceremony and invites us to take a look at these heartbreaking footage.
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<p>1. A 9-month-old girl is waiting for her turn to be circumcised. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>2. Families of 284 girls who received money for mass circumcision in honor of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The girls and their families gathered in a large hall before the start of the ceremony, which, according to tradition, begins with a prayer. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>3. One of the girls is being prepared for the circumcision procedure. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>4. In Asia, female circumcision is still a living tradition in some communities in the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Indonesia. It is also practiced in the UAE, South Yemen, Oman and Bahrain. In Latin America, female circumcision can be found in Brazil, Eastern Mexico, and Peru. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>5. One of the girls after the procedure. Doctors put special underpants on her, but this does not guarantee a quick healing. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>6. Doctors use scissors to cut off the hood and head of the clitoris. The World Health Organization considers this ritual unnecessary and condemns it. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>7. In some countries, a girl can only marry and wear jewelry after she has been circumcised. In the photo: the girl is preparing for the circumcision procedure. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>8. Doctors preparing instruments for a circumcision procedure in an elementary school. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>9. In some countries where female circumcision is practiced, it is believed that if a woman does not pass this test, then she is unclean, too excited and cannot do housework properly. It is also believed that an uncircumcised woman cannot give birth to a boy. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>10. One of the girls after circumcision. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
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<p>11. The main reason for female circumcision is religion. In some countries, it is believed that uncircumcised girls cannot clean themselves properly after urinating, and the prayers of the "unclean" will not be answered. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
<p>12. Since 1997, female circumcision has been banned in Egypt, except in cases of "medical necessity". Some doctors continue to operate using this excuse. An operation performed at home by a midwife is much cheaper than in a clinic. That is why many choose this method, although it often leads to death, since the operation takes place without disinfection and anesthesia. (Stephanie Sinclair)</p>
