Oumar Mariko

Oumar Mariko (born 4 February 1959) is a Malian politician, doctor and noted former student activist. He is the Secretary-General of African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI), a left-wing political party, and has three times run for President of Mali, in 2002, 2007 and 2013. Quotes Public opinion tends to show a strong tendency against the practice, but the political leaders, who represent all tendencies - those for and against the practice - still have not managed to have an anti-FGM law passed in the National Assembly. But the problem has been raised and everyone is talking about it. There is an intentional mixing of religion and culture. From the religious perspective, it is interesting to note that in regions such as Timbucktoo, a highly religious town, excision is not practised. Nowadays, the tradition is no longer respected by the very persons who wish to have it applied. Excision in Mali was not carried out on babies or young girls but rather on teenage girls between 13 and 16 years old, who, once excised, were married off. The practice wasn’t carried out in the village itself, but outside it. There was a special knife to perform the excision, which was blessed by the spirits, and therefore a whole ritual surrounding it. In the village, the girl’s parents didn’t know if their daughter would come out safe and sound from that ceremony. External links Category:Politicians from Mali Category:Physicians from Mali Category:1959 births Category:Living people