I'm a proud Dawoodi Bohra and I'm against female khatna in my community.
Some people think that I can't be both. The local amil sent me a message through a mutual contact
saying that the work I do to end
female khatna is good and that I should
not talk about it publicly. I tried to
arrange a meeting with him,
but he kept delaying it and delaying it.
Then Syedna announced that female khatna
is required and must be done in
secret and the amil and his contacts
stopped talking about it with me. But I
kept talking and people on social media
hit back. How can you be a real Bohra,
you don't wear rida. You don't attend
Masjid regularly. You don't follow what
Syedna says without question. But if I
question one practice does that mean I
am not a member of the community? Am I
not a real Bohra? Am I exposing the
community's secrets, but wait whose
secret is it? The girls or the
community's? Our community is known for
being a progressive. People say Borha
women are educated, not like in other
groups. They're encouraged to have
careers, to lead. This is our reputation
and yet we are still cut. I've heard our
people defend khatna - It makes Bohra women
focused. It's what helps them be serious
about their careers. Without it you'd see
more bohra couples divorcing. It keeps our women healthy. I'm a proud Dawoodi Borha. I
love my community and always have. I had my misaq. I married a Borha. We raise our
kids Borha.I think if you love your community then
you help it grow and if I had a daughter
I would not have her cut. I hope my
story will make people realize that you
can love a community and want to help it
without destroying it.
you
