One's Welfare is another's nightmare

Culture is a mirror of life and conveys communities’ practice and enriches its history. Judiciously applied it builds bridges between the societies and empowers the communities With past memories and present practices.
Somali culture is not far differ than those of our fellow Africans. We share a lot and differ more. But similarities sometimes outweigh by the sparking contrasts. We are proud of being a part of African civilization and its national customs.
Our African heritage is not deniable, but it harbors hazardous customs. Circumcisions of girls are the striking similarities that we share with our fellow Africans. It is this phenomenon that hurts Somali immigrants in Europe and at home. Even though we are miles away from this malicious act and it’s save heavens, Somali parents pay heavy prizes for its legacy in abroad. These horrors embed many Somali homes and incriminate many other innocent families of Somalis and our fellow Africans as well.
The question is not whether particularly Somalis in the west still practice this tradition or not. It is about the perception of the young Somali generations in abroad and the enforcements of the laws of child welfare that is mainly adopted to protect the African girl populations in the west. Most Somalis are law-abiding citizens. They are no longer practicing this inhumane tradition, but yet are the victims of unprofessional, culturally motivated prejudice against them.

The news papers are full of alarming articles stating that some Somali families still continue to practice a female genital mutilation (FGM) in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. A tradition some wrongly believe that has something to do with religion; others view it as a holy practice that one has to carry it forward with any price. While the majority [Somalis] view it as a hideous act that has its root from pharos of ancient Egypt and it has something to do with a mere control of women’s sexualities. However, our holy religion emphasizes that the significance of male circumcision which also one can find in other books of Moses and Issa the son of Marry. When it comes to the circumcision of female, there is no evidence supporting this notion in any holy books and traditions of profits at all.

Therefore, accusing an individual or group of Somali origin of this crime is indeed a serious allegation if not substantiated by evidence. In the past it was common factor that the media attacks Somali communities in Europe. We were in part of daily entertainments that the majority used to pass time. Somalis was labeled as antisocial, abusers of the welfare system and most marginalized groups of minorities in Europe.

The recent incident that attracted my attention was an event in western Norway, where a Somali family was detained for about one-week and two of their children were taken by the Norwegian Child Welfare Authority (NCWA). This was a serious mistake, if it is not proven it beyond the reasonable doubt. And a case in hand was a baseless allegation against the family and violation of their civic rights. After the request of family lawyer, a team of doctors had carried out medical investigation on the girls’ gentile. Their conclusion was that there was no evidence supporting the claim of NCWA. The police and NCWA have argued that they were acting accordingly to the law and their task was to make sure that the welfare of these girls must be assured. Girls’ welfare was indeed, in this case, a nightmare for the parents of these children. Parents are confused and do not know what to do. The Somali community also is puzzled and cannot figure out why these mistakes occur time and time again! It is an understandable though that enforcement of this new law in Norway would eventually save some individuals from the vulnerable groups of African backgrounds. But where is the professionalism of those executing these laws? Do they lack multicultural sensitivity or is just power demonstration upon the minorities? I wonder how any Norwegian family would have reacted upon if the police nocks on their door and take away their children for the pretext of child abuse without established evidences.

It is worth to mention that a local newspaper presented detailed accounts of those who may behind this incriminating story. The paper revealed the name of a Norwegian organization, Human Rights Service, which according to the VG behind this drive. The information officer of HRS, Hege Storhaug, is referred as a beneficiary of this blackmail business against Somali families in Norway. The HRS receives millions of krones from Norwegian government which in practice intended to help fight against female genital mutilation. Read it here: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=216868
This Human Rights Service is among other organizations that benefit from misery of this culture. HRS receives over million state aids from the Norwegian government in order to protect these young girls. But the paper also presents the names with pictures of three girls from minorities groups. At least two of them are from Somali communities who vigorously spoken out against the behaviors and procedures of HRS. One of the girls admits that Hege Storhaug has exploited their plight instead of giving them protection.
This shows only how pity it is to be a visible "minority Group" in this country that faces a wrath of a more powerful media…