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Somali parents and guardians have spoken out about the need to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM), but say the “aggressive and oppressive behaviour" of campaigners and professionals is treating every parent with a young child as a "criminal".

At a recent meeting to discuss the issues, parents spoke of “intimidating” visits from police and social workers, with one mother saying she was forced to sign a form to say she would not harm her child ahead of a trip to East Africa.

The mother said: “No sooner had I informed the school that I am taking my child to East Africa for the summer holidays than I received a call from a social worker.

"After a long discussion over the phone, I allowed them to visit me at home and they made me sign a form to say I won’t ‘mutilate’ my child.

“Would I ever hurt my child?

“They also took our passport numbers and asked me addresses of where we are going, and when we are coming back. It was intimidation, really.”

Other parents said they had been threatened with FGM Protection Orders if they refused to sign the form.

The Bristol Somali Media Group (BSMG) reported that parents and carers had gathered at Easton Community Centre on Tuesday March 6 following the collapse of a recent FGM trial in Bristol.

In the trial, prosecution attempted to secure the UK’s first ever FGM conviction against a Bristol taxi driver accused of having the procedure performed on his daughter. But the case was thrown out after three days by the judge who described it as “deeply troubling” with “inconsistent” evidence from the prosecution.

At the meeting in Easton members of the Somali community re-affirmed the need to eradicate FGM calling it a “barbaric practice” which was illegal and “not in line with the Islamic religion”.

But BSMG reported that “the FGM measures aimed to protect children are doing more harm than good at the present time, nevertheless.”

As a response to the mistrust between the community and professionals and in recognition of the serious problem of FGM, the group formed a committee of seven women and four men to encourage parents in the Somali community to join the FGM campaign, promote the rights of parents and families, and tackle misconceptions.

The new FGM committee will also engage Bristol’s Somali community providing education and raising awareness of FGM as well as seeking to develop links with authorities including the police and the home office.

The most important work of the group will be to give a voice to children whose rights they say are being violated. “The random examination of young females without evidence is not only a grave concern but gross human rights violations too. A point in case is the recently collapsed case where private parts of three young girls had been examined because of baseless allegations,” reported the BSMG.

“If you don’t help vulnerable people in the community, no one else will. And the FGM Committee was formed to help and promote the rights of Somali young girls and their families.”

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Anyone who is concerned a child is at risk of or has experienced FGM can speak to an NSPCC FGM helpline advisor on 0800 028 3550, or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk

Children can call Childline 0800 1111. The line is open 24/7. If a child is in immediate danger, ring 999.