10 Nov 2003 17:26:57 GMT

By Patrick McLoughlin

STOCKHOLM, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, is forbidden under Islam, a dominant religion in countries where it is practised, a leading Swedish Muslim leader told an international conference on Monday.

Two million girls are circumcised each year, 130 million women in 30 countries have already been mutilated in this way, and campaigners said they hoped the cleric's comments would help stop the practice by making clear it had no basis in religion.

"I as Imam would like, with my colleagues, to turn to the Islamic world, particularly in Africa, and inform people that female genital mutilation is prohibited," said Sheik Omar Ahmed.

"It is a matter of abuse and violation of the female body and is quite clearly forbidden according to Islam," he told delegates from 13 African countries, Sweden and international bodies such as the World Health Organisation.

Imams, whose role as mosque prayer leaders gives them great influence in Muslim communities, differ in their interpretation of Muslim teachings.

Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, grand sheikh of Cairo's prestigious al-Azhar mosque, told a June conference on the practice in Egypt that the Koran did not demand or even mention female circumcision. Delegates at that conference said his remarks would help the Africa-wide campaign against the practice.

In some African countries, including Egypt, Somalia and Ethiopa, cutting off the clitoris and other parts of the external genitalia is an ancient tradition that persists despite a widespread ban. In Eritrea 95 percent of women have been circumcised, according to the U.N. Children's Fund.

For communities which practise female circumcision it is a rite of passage to womanhood which, by reducing sex drive, also limits promiscuity. It is sometimes carried out by a doctor but more often by a relative or local "healer" using a razor blade.

Sweden staged the two-day conference to coordinate action against genital mutilation in its own immigrant community and overseas, with the aim of total eradication by 2010.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SCARS

The Swedish Imam said female circumcision dated from Pharaonic times in Egypt but caused pain and infection and led to diminished sexual feeling, causing mental problems.

Experts say it leaves women physically and emotionally scarred and can cause infertility, incontinence and pain during intercourse. When carried out with unsterilised blades it can cause death by haemorrhage, blood poisoning or urine retention.

Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference that the Imam's remarks were significant in the fight against a brutal practice.

"Many people think this is a religious practice and it's important that people with authority -- like an Imam -- tell people this is not right," she said.

"This has no basis in religion, full stop. It's not a matter for discussion," Sweden's special ambassador for human rights, Ulla Strom, told Reuters. "We had this very clear statement from the Imam and it's going to be difficult for other Imams to challenge it."

A major conference on genital mutilation in Addis Ababa proposed adopting February 6 as an international day for the war against female circumcision.

"We shall push hard on how to coordinate between migrants in Europe and communities in Africa to create awareness that things are changing," said Linah Kilimo, Kenyan Minister of State.