A young woman from Togo was recently called to our attention because this woman. a 20yearold woman. was going to have this procedure. Fauziya Kasinga fled Togo and came to America in order to escape the torture of female genital mutilation. She is now seeking asylum based on the threat of this procedure being performed on her and she deserves it. She fled Togo. left behind people. and her family. She has been in the United States prisons for 2 years in order to escape this procedure. Women and children should not be forced to face this pain. potential death. and emotional scarring. An amendment will be offered today to the pending immigration bill that would allow female genital mutilation to be the basis of asylum in this country. as well as to criminalize the act in the United States. We must join other countries in legally banning female genital mutilation. As immigrants from Africa and the Middle East travel to other nations. this practice travels with them. The United Kingdom. Sweden. and Switzerland have passed laws prohibiting this practice.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants from Africa and the Middle East are portrayed as bringing the practice of female genital mutilation with them.