News that members of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria are demanding women undergo female genital mutilation is probably a hoax, according to multiple correspondents in the area.
Leila Fadel, NPR’s Cairo bureau chief, said her contacts called the report false.
UN says learned that ISIS issued FGM decree this morning. #Mosul residents say not true. #ISIS spokesman in #Mosul also denies it.
— Leila Fadel (@LeilaFadel) July 24, 2014
Jenan Moussa, a correspondent for Arabic Al Aan TV from Dubai, tweeted Thursday that her contacts in the region had not heard of any such demand.
My contacts in #Mosul have NOT heard that “Islamic State” ordered FGM for all females in their city http://t.co/kQFWKwGeLf
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) July 24, 2014
And Shaista Aziz, a blogger for the Guardian, said his contacts in Iraq hadn’t heard of the edict either.
Iraqi contacts say #Mosul story is fake. No evidence ISIS calling for #FGM to be carried out against girls and women #Iraq
— Shaista Aziz (@shaistaAziz) July 24, 2014
The “fatwa” was reportedly ordered by ISIS for girls between the ages of 11 and 46 living in and around the city of Mosul, Iraq.
Jacqueline Badcock, an official for the United Nations, told reporters Thursday that ISIS ordered the “fatwa” and that it could affect nearly 4 million women and girls in the region.
Badcock said the practice of FGM “is something very new for Iraq … and does need to be addressed.”
Just two days ago, the U.S. ordered a study to determine how many women in America are at risk of FGM. There are estimated to be 125 million women and girls who have undergone the procedure, which is common in just 29 countries.
