I had to start somewhere

Hello World Pulse,
I got motivated to look for a women's forum, where I could speak my mind on issues that affect us, the mothers, the daughters, the sisters, the friends, the lovers. So I looked for a forum, on Google, where else.. and found you. I would like to start with one of the most horrific tragedies facing us in the near future..........the inhuman order of ISIS of female genital mutilation of our sisters in Iraq. According to WHO's research data, see link http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/ this has no medical benefits for women and young girls on the contrary could lead to shock, severe bleeding, cysts, infertility and problems with child birth in later years. It has not been religiously prescribed, yet it seems to have religious backing. The practice is based on misguided ideas and beliefs of what is commonly perceived among some communities, about good upbringing of the girl child and probably more importantly a strong desire to conform and be a part of the crowd. As one who has personally suffered the horror and that at the very tender age of 6, I feel a very strong need to speak out against this practice and to encourage all my sisters AND my brothers to do the same. It is a nightmare that will remain forever etched in my memory. I remember the sweet words which lured me to the mid-wife's house. I remember her telling me that she was removing a worm which would always give me trouble. I remember the searing pain and the days of burning every time I had to go to the toilet. It cannot remain unspoken, it must not be hidden away like some deep dark secret. It must come out, It must be shared. We need to raise our voices TOGETHER, LOUD and CLEAR. We must no longer be treated in this inhuman manner.