Imam Abdoulie Fatty has led a huge number of religious leaders and Islamic students to the National Assembly as lawmakers hold first reading on Women’s Amendment Bill 2024 that seeks to lift ban on female genital mutilation in the country.

Scores of women’s rights activists also thronged the parliament to denounce the bill from passing through.

FGM law imposes up to 3 years in jail and a fine of 50,000 dalasis or both.

The National Assembly member for Foni Kansala, Almameh Gibba, who tabled the bill, argued that his private-member bill seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values, adding that the current ban on female circumcision is a direct violation of citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The house has set 18 March 2024 for the second reading of the bill.

More details follow.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba