Rumors of Islamic State ordering female genital mutilation in Mosul fake? — RT News
The potential number of victims is estimated at 4 million.
The story of Sunni militants from the Islamic State ordering all girls
and women aged 11 to 46 in the Mosul region to undergo female genital
mutilation has gone viral after a UN report on the matter. However, new doubt is being cast on the claims.
The potential number of victims was estimated to stand at 4 million.
The shocking news, adding to an already long list of crimes reportedly
committed by the militants since the takeover of northern Iraq last
month, was broken by UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Iraq,
Jacqueline Badcock.
"This is something very new for Iraq,
particularly in this area, and is of grave concern and does need to be
addressed," she told reporters in Geneva by videolink from Arbil on
Thursday.
"This is not the will of Iraqi people, or the women of Iraq in these vulnerable areas covered by the terrorists," she added.
However, later reports cast doubt on the viral story. As it turns out,
the Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi suggested the practice
over a year ago, while Badcock herself admitted to having "zero contact"
with the extremist group, alluding mainly to rumors heard from tribal
leaders in the area.
As the organization tries to ascertain
what went on, a number of journalists with contacts in Iraq has shared
what they believe to be the reality behind the ghastly rumors.
