Despite the criminalisation of FGM in The Gambia, the deeply entrenched traditional practice continues to receive open support from some quarters, but the Gambia government is not amused by this.
Some Islamic scholars, NGOs, students, among others, earlier this year openly rallied support for legislator Almamy Gibba’s bill at the National Assembly for the decriminalisation of FGM. They were also vociferous in their support for the ensuing legal case to challenge the constitutionality of the anti-FGM law.
But all this may change as the government was reportedly contemplating introducing measures to deal with the open support and promotion of FGM.
It’s not clear to JollofNews what these measures would involve, but the minister of information and broadcasting services Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was quoted as saying that the Barrow administration would toughen up when it comes to the issue. He did not elaborate.
