Kan det så være nødvendigt at udsætte piger i Birmingham for dette?

Hvor mange forskellige smertefulde overgreb kan unge piger udsættes for? I Storbritannien er det blevet opdaget, at små piger der når puberteten, bliver ofre for importerede skikke, der ikke hører nogen steder hjemme i Europa i dag. For at stoppe brystvækst slår mødre piger med rødglødende sten, hammer og murske. Mødrene ønsker at beskytte deres døtre fra voldtægt, sexchikane og graviditet.

In the brutal procedure, hot objects [stones, a hammer or a spatula] are used to pound and beat girls’ breasts to stop them growing in the belief it makes them less desirable and discourages premarital pregnancy.

Skikken kommer fra Cameroun, hvor en af fire piger er udsat for dette, men det er også udbredt i andre afrikanske lande som Nigeria. MP Jake Berry var dog chokeret, da han blev informeret om, at piger i Birmingham og London var i gruppen af ofre. Omkring 1000 piger vil være i fare. Fænomenet er ukendt for børneværnet og politiet, der ikke ved, hvad man skal kigge efter.

Mr Berry used freedom of information requests to show how little is known about the practice among child protection professions and the police. A quarter of children’s services department had not been trained to look for signs, while one in seven police forces had never heard of it.

Jack Berry ønsker at denne skik får samme status som kvindelig omskæring og stemples som børnemishandling. Børn på 10 år underkastes denne smertefulde behandling, der øger risikoen for kræft, infektioner og cyster.

‘There is a dangerous lack of knowledge out there. The government should act and issue guidance to all local authorities and other public sector bodies about the warning signs that could uncover this practice.’

‘Hot stones, hammers and spatulas are used twice a day for several weeks or months to stop or delay and in some cases permanently destroy the natural development of the breast.’

‘But just as in the case of FGM (kjønnslemlestelse) these words are a thinly veiled excuse for a ritualised form of child abuse.’

Margaret Nyuydzewira, leder af Women and Girls Development Organisation, kommenterer:

‘Yes, it is happening in the UK. We know it is happening through members of our community. It is brutal. There is a lot of trauma. Mothers are doing it with good intentions, to protect their daughters from sexual harassment, but it does not fit with British values.’

Udenrigsminister Karen Bradley siger, at regeringen er ‘absolutely committed’ til at få slut med denne svøbe. Men hun indrømmer, at nogle fagfolk stadig er tilbageholdende på grund af “kulturel følsomhed.”

Ikke smertefrit.

Daily Mail  The Times