John Oliver Rails Against Egypt and Its 91% Female Genital Mutilation Rate

During his Sunday HBO “Last Week This Week” program, host John Oliver took on the merits of a report that ISIS forces in Iraq were performing genital mutilation on women as part of its effort to spread Sharia Law in its conquered territory.

Although those reports may have not been accurate, Oliver called it to question places where it still does occur in Africa and in particular Egypt, which he says occurs at an alarming 91 percent rate. That according to Oliver should be the first thing people think of when it comes to Egypt, and not anything else it is known for including the pyramids.

“And before everyone gets too relieved that female genital mutilation is not being practiced by ISIS in Iraq, it is worth remembering it is still happening in a shocking number of places including as I learned for the first time this week in Egypt, where it happens at a 91 percent rate among married women age 15 to 49. That is appalling for Egypt and absolutely amazing for whoever it is that does the branding for Egypt because in light of that statistic, how are pyramids the first thing we fucking think of? Failing to mention genital mutilation first when you talk about Egypt is like calling Rob Ford that Canadian guy who famously fought Toronto’s fair wage policy or referring to 9/11 as Harry Connick, Jr.’s birthday.”

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