Fadumo Korn: a Brave Woman Struggling against FGM
by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my
interview with Fadumo Korn, chairwoman of the association Nala e.V., an interpreter
in Munich, Germany and author of the brave book entitled “Geboren
im großen Regen” (Born in the big rain). As a victim of FGM,
she described her experience as the all worst thing you can do to a woman is
female circumcision and/or FGM. Fadumo now struggles against this horrifying
crime and I would like to thank her so much for her answers in the following
interview and wish her wish all the very best in her struggle against FGM. For
ProMosaik the struggle against FGM is a struggle involving the whole of society
throughout the world. The braveness of women like Fadumo who out speak about it
and describe the agonies so clearly can help end FGM.
interview with Fadumo Korn, chairwoman of the association Nala e.V., an interpreter
in Munich, Germany and author of the brave book entitled “Geboren
im großen Regen” (Born in the big rain). As a victim of FGM,
she described her experience as the all worst thing you can do to a woman is
female circumcision and/or FGM. Fadumo now struggles against this horrifying
crime and I would like to thank her so much for her answers in the following
interview and wish her wish all the very best in her struggle against FGM. For
ProMosaik the struggle against FGM is a struggle involving the whole of society
throughout the world. The braveness of women like Fadumo who out speak about it
and describe the agonies so clearly can help end FGM.
Milena Rampoldi: You
have personally experienced FGM. How did you manage the step towards speaking
about it and struggling against FGM?
have personally experienced FGM. How did you manage the step towards speaking
about it and struggling against FGM?
Fadumo Korn: It took me more than 35
years to understand that only the involvement of
people like myself can do something about FGM. Therefore, in January 1999,
first, I decided to go public and show what we are not imaginary, but real
women who do not have their clitoris any more but who are ready to struggle for
the rest. With my own story and my own destiny, in Germany I have gained a lot
of attention. With a child enrolled in school, but fortunately my husband stood
by me and repeatedly encouraged me to keep fighting.
years to understand that only the involvement of
people like myself can do something about FGM. Therefore, in January 1999,
first, I decided to go public and show what we are not imaginary, but real
women who do not have their clitoris any more but who are ready to struggle for
the rest. With my own story and my own destiny, in Germany I have gained a lot
of attention. With a child enrolled in school, but fortunately my husband stood
by me and repeatedly encouraged me to keep fighting.
MR: Which are the worst
FGM consequences for women?
FGM consequences for women?
FK: The pain when we get our
menstruation, is an unimaginable pain. It is like a wild animal rummaging in my
lower abdomen. In addition, there is the pain during urination and sexual
intercourse. However, the worst of all is while giving
birth when the sewed vagina splits and the baby’s head
carries away everything in its path; when unable hold your urine, you cannot
feel anything during intimacy with your husband; and when girls bleed to death
during circumcision and die.
menstruation, is an unimaginable pain. It is like a wild animal rummaging in my
lower abdomen. In addition, there is the pain during urination and sexual
intercourse. However, the worst of all is while giving
birth when the sewed vagina splits and the baby’s head
carries away everything in its path; when unable hold your urine, you cannot
feel anything during intimacy with your husband; and when girls bleed to death
during circumcision and die.
Some women become infertile by their
injuries and are unable to have any children. Then they have a double destiny.
Something which should make women beautiful and pure, instead makes them
“outsiders”, because women without children are worthless in Somalia.
injuries and are unable to have any children. Then they have a double destiny.
Something which should make women beautiful and pure, instead makes them
“outsiders”, because women without children are worthless in Somalia.
MR: Why must we promote
discussion about FGM in Europe?
discussion about FGM in Europe?
FK: Since Europeans have not yet understood
that FGM is not just an African matter and/or problem. The tradition has spread
throughout the world including Europe through migration.
that FGM is not just an African matter and/or problem. The tradition has spread
throughout the world including Europe through migration.
MR: The struggle against
FGM is an important one for Islamic feminism. Why do so few people oppose it?
FGM is an important one for Islamic feminism. Why do so few people oppose it?
FK: Basically, Muslims are not capable of
doing so because the subject is not openly discussed by Muslims who avoid
speaking about sexual matters are not in public. Islamic feminism should have a
better opportunity to openly and publicly speak about this matter within the
religious community. Furthermore, this depends on the fact that FGM does not
only exist in Muslim countries, but is also practiced in countries without
Islamic tradition.
doing so because the subject is not openly discussed by Muslims who avoid
speaking about sexual matters are not in public. Islamic feminism should have a
better opportunity to openly and publicly speak about this matter within the
religious community. Furthermore, this depends on the fact that FGM does not
only exist in Muslim countries, but is also practiced in countries without
Islamic tradition.
MR: How can we mobilise the masses in countries where FGM is
still part of daily life and end this tradition?
still part of daily life and end this tradition?
FK: We have to convince Muslims to
unleash an indignant storm of protest against FGM. We have to tell them that
human beings have audaciously dared to change Allah’s perfect
creation. And this is a great sin. Human beings are marvellous. In Quran 95:4
it says: “Indeed, We have created the human being upon the best of forms.”
However, is the man so great that he thinks Allah has committed a mistake when
He created him? Exactly this is what human beings do when they practice FGM.
Human beings elevate themselves over Allah and think they could improve Allah’s unique creation.
unleash an indignant storm of protest against FGM. We have to tell them that
human beings have audaciously dared to change Allah’s perfect
creation. And this is a great sin. Human beings are marvellous. In Quran 95:4
it says: “Indeed, We have created the human being upon the best of forms.”
However, is the man so great that he thinks Allah has committed a mistake when
He created him? Exactly this is what human beings do when they practice FGM.
Human beings elevate themselves over Allah and think they could improve Allah’s unique creation.
MR: Please tell us about
your book.
your book.
FK: The following is an extract from my
book:
book:
Until my 8th birthday, I did
not know any permanent home. As happy small nomadic girl I went through Somalia
with my family and our cattle looking for place where there was pasture enough
for the animals. It was not always a funny life, no, sometimes it was even hard
because we walked for days. Since I have been four, I had to care of the whole
flock of sheep alone. And I was a strong-willed and stubborn child. Once as I
discovered a nice cloth on a bazaar, and it was not bought to me, I piped down
so long until I fainted. After that my father bought me the cloth. However,
when I got seven years old, all changed…
not know any permanent home. As happy small nomadic girl I went through Somalia
with my family and our cattle looking for place where there was pasture enough
for the animals. It was not always a funny life, no, sometimes it was even hard
because we walked for days. Since I have been four, I had to care of the whole
flock of sheep alone. And I was a strong-willed and stubborn child. Once as I
discovered a nice cloth on a bazaar, and it was not bought to me, I piped down
so long until I fainted. After that my father bought me the cloth. However,
when I got seven years old, all changed…
The Great Day of a Somalian Nomadic Girl
Finally, the great day had come. I could
hardly wait for it because today – at last – I would have become a woman. As
promised, early in the morning I had already got a wonderful cloth, a mirror
and marvellous sandals. A beautiful cloth like this you should get dirty, so I
did not tied it around, but clamped it under the arm folded, and proudly
followed the other girls on the path leaving the village. On the way, my
knees were shaking out of excitement. Then, when I saw the old, heavily flexed
woman coming to the camp under the great acacia tree, suddenly I became afraid.
I saw her spreading out a cloth and putting on it a bag with ashes, a can with
sticky paste, some acacia thorns and a half razor blade. My mother pointed to
the place in front of her. I should sit down there and then I heard her saying:
“Be a good girl, do not be a shame for me, and do not scream!”
hardly wait for it because today – at last – I would have become a woman. As
promised, early in the morning I had already got a wonderful cloth, a mirror
and marvellous sandals. A beautiful cloth like this you should get dirty, so I
did not tied it around, but clamped it under the arm folded, and proudly
followed the other girls on the path leaving the village. On the way, my
knees were shaking out of excitement. Then, when I saw the old, heavily flexed
woman coming to the camp under the great acacia tree, suddenly I became afraid.
I saw her spreading out a cloth and putting on it a bag with ashes, a can with
sticky paste, some acacia thorns and a half razor blade. My mother pointed to
the place in front of her. I should sit down there and then I heard her saying:
“Be a good girl, do not be a shame for me, and do not scream!”
Then all happened very quickly. My aunt
and my mother held me and in my head an untold pain – a pain I can still
clearly sympathise with after more than 30 years. This pain has to only
advantage that you faint. After the first step, I was unable to respond, did
not feel anything of what was done, cut, and sewed. However, when I woke up my
legs from the ankles to the hips were strongly wrapped around. I should not
move so that the wound can heal. All was hurtful, and only then the real
torture began.
and my mother held me and in my head an untold pain – a pain I can still
clearly sympathise with after more than 30 years. This pain has to only
advantage that you faint. After the first step, I was unable to respond, did
not feel anything of what was done, cut, and sewed. However, when I woke up my
legs from the ankles to the hips were strongly wrapped around. I should not
move so that the wound can heal. All was hurtful, and only then the real
torture began.
Just a hole not bigger than the head of a
needle should remain so that urine and blood can flow off. But to me, not even
that remained and so the day after the procedure was repeated to reopen a part
of the suture. Probably this way the wound inflamed. For weeks, I had high
fever, and the wound suppurated. And while I was struggling against the death,
my mother even bought me a shroud.
needle should remain so that urine and blood can flow off. But to me, not even
that remained and so the day after the procedure was repeated to reopen a part
of the suture. Probably this way the wound inflamed. For weeks, I had high
fever, and the wound suppurated. And while I was struggling against the death,
my mother even bought me a shroud.
However, I did not die. But I could not
jump around as I did before, I could not help my family anymore, and what was
worse, I could not follow them through the desert anymore. They sent me to my
uncle who had a house in Mogadishu and there the other part of my life began.
For the first time, I saw cars, and listened to the radio. Later, I also got
the chance to go to school. Notwithstanding, I did never heal completely. In
addition, I got rheuma, probably the consequence of the horrifying infection.
And when the physicians in Mogadishu did not know what to do else, my uncle
first sent me to Italy, and after that to Germany.
jump around as I did before, I could not help my family anymore, and what was
worse, I could not follow them through the desert anymore. They sent me to my
uncle who had a house in Mogadishu and there the other part of my life began.
For the first time, I saw cars, and listened to the radio. Later, I also got
the chance to go to school. Notwithstanding, I did never heal completely. In
addition, I got rheuma, probably the consequence of the horrifying infection.
And when the physicians in Mogadishu did not know what to do else, my uncle
first sent me to Italy, and after that to Germany.
Since 1979, I have been living in Munich
– the third part of my life. However, I still have health problems, which are a
clear result of the genital cutting. Thanks to physicians in Somalia and Europe
today I am able to live a happy family life with my husband and my son. To my
mother I have forgiven since a long time, she just wanted the best for me and
could not resist to the community’s pressure. However, I
have not forgiven to the circumciser until now who was so old, shaking, almost
blind, and who should have not been authorised to do her job for a long time.
– the third part of my life. However, I still have health problems, which are a
clear result of the genital cutting. Thanks to physicians in Somalia and Europe
today I am able to live a happy family life with my husband and my son. To my
mother I have forgiven since a long time, she just wanted the best for me and
could not resist to the community’s pressure. However, I
have not forgiven to the circumciser until now who was so old, shaking, almost
blind, and who should have not been authorised to do her job for a long time.
Finally, I would like to tell you how the
book began. The book began when I was in trouble. 2003, my husband Walter
in-broke his neck and risked becoming handicapped. Since I was so afraid to
lose my mind, I started to write the book. Of course, I did not even think of
the success it would have.
book began. The book began when I was in trouble. 2003, my husband Walter
in-broke his neck and risked becoming handicapped. Since I was so afraid to
lose my mind, I started to write the book. Of course, I did not even think of
the success it would have.
