Egypt Outlaws Female Circumcision

M&C, as well as Australia's Herald Sun, report that yesterday Egypt's Parliament passed legislation-- effective immediately-- outlawing female circumcision (except in cases of medical necessity). Members of the Muslim Brotherhood movement complained that the new legislation-- part of a children's rights law-- "contradicts with the Islamic jurisprudence and is brought from the West." In Egypt, some among both Muslims and Christians practice female circumcision. Parliament also passed a law setting the minimum age of marriage for both males and females at 18. (See prior related posting.)