LA Times takes on deaths by circumcision in South Africa

[Papai]

I believe this is the first time a U.S. mainstream media outlet has openly addressed this issue.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-fg-...136,full.story

A law banning bush circumcisions hasn't helped. Thirty-seven have died in Eastern Cape province this year; others, like Zweni, have lost all or part of their penises. More than 400 boys have died in the province since 1994, according to government health figures.

"More than a hundred years ago, this custom was stopped by the King of Pondos," says Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, chairman of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders. "Now, because children are mixing with other tribes at school who practice this custom, young ones all of a sudden take this upon themselves."

They unfortunately throw in the "Medical research has shown circumcision sharply reduces the spread of HIV and other diseases," but at least the lie that circumcision doesn't kill or mutilate is being uncovered. Unfortunately, the response is likely to be: Circumcise earlier and in hospitals.

[serendipity22]

They have all lost part of their penises.

The foreskin is part of the penis.

[Claire and Boys]

What makes me sick about this is that most people won't register, or remember what these boys go through.

The amount of times I've heard someone say "Male circumcision is not as bad as female circumcision, because girls are cut with rusty blades/pieces of glass that are not sterile, get infections etc." They don't realise that boys go through similar torture in the same way in countries that practice FGM.

Not that male circ in the west isn't torture, but in a medicalized environment.

Are people trying to stop these traditional circumcisions of boys in the same way they are campaigning to end FGM? I haven't heard anything about it, at all. If not why not?!