'My mother-in-law insists on circumcising my baby daughter'

isaac dachen

July 12, 2016 9:20 AM

What would you do if your mother-in-law insists your baby daughter must be circumcised?

Who can rescue this crying woman? (Illustration)

I have had three sons in quick succession and I prayed that the next one should be a girl and God in His infinite mercies, answered my prayers and my Angel cam two months ago. Being my first and probably my only daughter, I have vowed to protect and love her with every beat of my heart.

But my mother-in-law is now proving to be the fly in that ointment as she has maintained that I must go with her to the village to get my daughter circumcised. I have told her and even my husband, , who seems to be in agreement with his mother, that what they are planning to do is called Female Genital Mutilation and instead of curbing the so called promiscuity.

I made it clear to them that long term consequences of what they are planning to do include complications during childbirth, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, painful sexual intercourse, sexual dysfunction and an increased risk of HIV infection but they tell me that I have allowed my education to cloud my my sense of tradition.

Now she has given me an ultimatum that if I refuse to allow my daughter to be circumcised, I will have to leave her son's house. The funny thing is that Osondu seems aloof and agrees with his mother.

But I have vowed to protect my child and even at the risk of being thrown out of my home, I will never allow her to be mutilated.

Do you think I am taking the right decision?

Maureen."

Dear readers, on Morning Teaser today, we want you to advice Maureen on what to do. Should she allow her daughter to be circumcised or be thrown out of her home?

isaac dachen