Social anthropologist Kameel Ahmady recently released a study finding that female genital mutilation is practiced in at least four provinces in Iran. The research found that FGM is mainly practiced among followers of the Shafi’i sect of Sunni Islam in Iran. The research involved Ahmady speaking with over 3,000 women and 1,000 men who were victims of FGM. Adhmady found that many of the women who had experienced FGM defended the practice as a long-standing tradition.

Study Reveals Female Genital Mutilation is Practiced in Iran