A few murmurs of dissent rose at the 15th All World Dawoodi Bohra Conference in Udaipur as the topic of validity of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) or khatna came up on Sunday.

A voice of dissent against the ban came from Gazanfer Okasa, the general secretary of the Bohra Youth Association. “Khatna shouldn’t be linked to FGM,” said Okasa, refering to the Grade 2, 3 and 4 level female genital mutilation practised in African countries, which could involve total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora. “In our community, we cut a little part, unlike in African countries. Though my sister, who is a doctor, and my mother strictly condemn this practice, I am in favour of khatna because I believe it is a part of our Sharia.”

The Bohra community, a sub-sect of Ismaili Shia Islam, remove the prepuce from the genitalia of girls before puberty.