When Gambia Banned Female Genital Cutting, a Defiant 96-Year-Old Resisted - The New York Times

Yassin Fatty, a traditional practitioner of female genital cutting in the West African nation of Gambia, became the first to be convicted there. But her case led to a backlash and a popular campaign to make it legal again. Yassin Fatty, a traditional practitioner of female genital cutting in the West African nation of Gambia, became the first to be convicted there. But her case led to a backlash and a popular campaign to make it legal again. Credit... Supported by By Ruth Maclean and Matty Jobe Photographs by Kiana Hayeri Reporting from Bakadaji, Wassu, and Banjul, in Gambia There were young girls, sitting nervous and excited in new clothes under the afternoon sun. There were musicians, dancing and plates of food. There were old handmade knives and bright new razor blades. For the 30 traditional practitioners of female genital cutting, who swayed to somnolent melodies in their matching print dresses, the event was a little like the mass cutting parties that they and their ancestors had

Yassin Fatty, a traditional practitioner of female genital cutting in the West African nation of Gambia, became the first to be convicted there. But her case led to a backlash and a popular campaign to make it legal again. Yassin Fatty, a traditional practitioner of female genital cutting in the West African nation of Gambia, became the first to be convicted there. But her case led to a backlash and a popular campaign to make it legal again. Credit... Supported by By Ruth Maclean and Matty Jobe Photographs by Kiana Hayeri Reporting from Bakadaji, Wassu, and Banjul, in Gambia There were young g