Legal Compliance Over Tradition: Imam Spares Grandchildren from FGM Despite Beliefs

PC: AI Generated

In the bustling village of Kaiaf in The Gambia’s Lower River Region, a senior religious leader finds himself caught between deeply held beliefs and the realities of the law.

Musa Babanding Kassama, representing the imam of Kaiaf, maintains that female genital mutilation (FGM) is rooted in religious and cultural tradition. Yet, in a striking contradiction, he has chosen not to subject his grandchildren to the practice—citing legal consequences rather than a change in personal conviction.

Speaking to this medium in March 2026, he said, “I am above seventy, and I will not want to be jailed because of FGM."

His decision reflects a growing tension in Kiang district, where FGM remains widely practised despite being outlawed under the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015. The law criminalises the practice, imposing penalties of up to three years imprisonment, or life imprisonment if death occurs.

A community divided

Kiang has become a focal point in the national debate over FGM, with strong resistance to the ban from some quarters. The area’s National Assembly Member for Kiang West, Lamin Ceesay, has publicly called for the repeal of the law, arguing that it infringes on the cultural and religious rights of his constituents.

Within communities, the divide is increasingly visible. While some leaders and traditionalists continue to defend FGM as a rite of passage and a marker of identity, others—including several regional chiefs—have voiced support for its abandonment.

Faith versus evidence

Imam Kassama remains firm in his belief that FGM is an Islamic obligation.

“If anybody says that females should not be circumcised, I would not agree,” he said. “According to the Quran, both male and female need to be circumcised.”

He further argued that the practice predates Islam and was not prohibited by the religion, reinforcing his view that it should continue.

On the issue of health risks, Kassama dismissed widely documented medical concerns, attributing complications during childbirth to divine will rather than the consequences of cutting.

“The complications that are attributed to childbirth are natural,” he said. “If God says you will deliver with complications, you will.”

His stance stands in sharp contrast to global medical consensus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that FGM has no health benefits and is associated with severe pain, excessive bleeding, infections, childbirth complications, and long-term psychological trauma.

Law as a deterrent

Despite his beliefs, Kassama’s decision to spare his grandchildren underscores the growing influence of legal enforcement—even in communities where social pressure to continue the practice remains strong.

“All my daughters are circumcised,” he said. “But my grandchildren will never be circumcised because I don’t want to be in conflict with the law.”

His comments suggest that for some, compliance is driven less by changing attitudes and more by fear of prosecution.

A dangerous legacy

The risks associated with female genital mutilation (FGM) are very real. In 2016, a widely reported case in Kiang involved the death of a young girl following a cutting procedure in Sankandi. This incident reignited national concern over the practice, even after it had been banned.

Some residents argue that the issue lies not in the practice itself, but in how it is carried out. Kassama suggested that traditional circumcisers may need training, rather than a complete abolition of the practice.

The road ahead

Analysts and campaigners warn that such arguments risk prolonging harm under the guise of cultural preservation. They stress that partial compliance—where individuals quietly abandon the practice while publicly defending it—can slow progress toward full eradication.

For now, Kaiaf’s deputy imam embodies this complex reality: a man who defends FGM in principle, yet rejects it in practice when faced with the weight of the law.

His decision may not signal a shift in belief—but it highlights a critical turning point in The Gambia’s fight against FGM, where legal pressure is beginning to reshape even the most entrenched traditions.

Author: Nelson Manneh