In the Netherlands, you are in charge of your own life. You decide who you go out with, who you have sexual contact with, and whom you love. But within certain communities, women are not free. In fact, they are mutilated by having their genitals cut away in a primitive manner, often without anesthesia, so that they cannot experience pleasure. They are then sewn up to ensure that their husband knows he is the first. Horrific practices that are justified and even glorified in certain cultures.

Today, over 4000 girls in our country are at risk of being circumcised. The VVD finds that unacceptable. These barbaric practices must stop.

Genital mutilation is now punishable. But the glorification of and calls for genital mutilation must also be punishable. That has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

Member of Parliament Bente Becker and SP member Sarah Dobbe announced today that they will submit a bill to regulate this.