A draft bill to be published soon for consideration by the Scottish Parliament would make it illegal to send a female out of the country for the purposes of female circumcision, a harmful mutilation considered essential in some African tribal religions. Although the practice is already outlawed throughout the United Kingdom (UK), many African immigrants continue to send their female children -- as young as age 5 -- to their home villages in their countries of origin so that they can receive the controversial mutilation.

If the new legislation is enacted, it will provide for a sentence of up to 14 years for those who violate the law. Female circumcision in the UK is punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

The bill comes from a joint effort between Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell and anti-female circumcision activist Khadija Coll (29), a Scottish citizen from Somalia who is a former finalist in the Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year award for her tireless campaigning against the practice of female circumcision. Coll nearly died from complications of her own female circumcision at age 5. She is now married to a Scotsman, Stephen Coll, and is the mother of 2 children.

Coll also plans to open an advice center that would educate African people about the dangers and cruelty of female circumcision. She commented, "If they don't know about the danger they will still do it."

For the full story: Move to Protect African Girls from Barbaric Surgery.