TR,
Thank you for your post and your links, they provide much needed information about FGM and its effects. The highlighting of FGM is one huge benefit of the visit by Ayaan Hirst Ali.

Of most concern is that FGM is carried out here in Aus and is against the law. About 50 patients are treated, per annumn, for post FGM problems at Auburn hospital in Sydney. It is unknown how many are treated in other hospitals throughout the country or how many girls are mutilated and do not get medical assistance.

No person has ever been charged with FGM, or aiding and abetting, and medical personel are supposed to report any instances. This is not done because it may discourage the seeking of medical help for post FGM problems. This is the wrong attitude.

Much information should be given out locally and to prospective immigrants that after a certain date new laws will come into force to jail and/or deport those responsible. Parents and guardians should be told straight out that no Australian born girl should suffer FGM.

We have a moral responsibility to stop this barbaric practice being carried out on Australian girls.

MPs need to be lobbied in this regard.

"Irfan, you have not answered my question. Do you think the Australian government should deny Hirsi Ali a visa?"

I have no idea under what category of visa Hirsi Ali came to Australia, hence I cannot comment on the legality of the decision. However, the Minister does have a residual discretion in these matters. The Minister has in the past refused visas to persons whom s/he believes could cause division or gross offensive to a substantial portion of the population. Hence I note David Irving and Gerry Adams have both been refused visas.

However, on balance, the fact remains that Hirsi Ali was here to attend a Writers' Festival. She is apparently a writer (although there are doubts on whether she actually wrote the essays and speeches that made up "The Caged Virgin"). Her books are best sellers. In her capacity as a writer, there is no reason why she shouldn't be allowed in Australia.

By the way, the man you describe as an Islamic extremist was in fact a lone deranged and mentally ill person who just happened to be Muslim. I suggest you read Iam Buruma's Murder in Amsterdam to obtain more info.

Banjo,
I don’t disagree will what you say-but I have a couple of points of query:

1) “No person has ever been charged with FGM, or aiding and abetting, and medical personnel are supposed to report any instances. This is not done because it may discourage the seeking of medical help for post FGM problems”

Why is it then that doctors are also required to report cases of sexual abuse -AND DO.
Isn’t the later also likely to stop involved parties seeking help.
I suspect the real reason is that many medical & social welfare professionals fear to tread where multiculturalism/ethnic factors are involved.A limited sample it may be - but I had (very reliable ) feedback on one suspected “sexual abuse’ case where the investigators backed off only when the wife raised the argument that the officers did not understand her culture & the on going investigation was causing her & her husband embarrassment in their ethnic circle.

2) “Much information should be given out locally and to prospective immigrants that after a certain date new laws will come into force to jail and/or deport those responsible.”

I recall cases where we couldn’t deport a convicted drug peddler because some “humans rights body /judge ” determined it would disadvantage his Aussie born kids.
I’d image we’d have even worse problems getting the above through - ( quite apart from the fact that the offenders in the FGM cases are likely to have a lot more kids, for us to ‘disadvantage‘!)

Horus,
I don't for a moment doubt what you say about ethnic factors involved in not charging any person with FGM. My inquiries have given me the unofficial reason, by a medico, about discouraging those needing medical help. A question was asked in NSW Upper House, by Gordon Moyes MP, last year about this and as far as I know there has been no answer. This leaves open the charge that the law is discriminating in favour of some ethnic groups. (so whats new?)

Regarding your second point. Yes I am aware of such rulings by judges, but the message must go to those locally and to prospective immigrants that we will not tolerate FGM. At present i believe they are told by relos here that not to worry, you can do it on the quiet here. Or send the girl back home to be "done". ( need politicians with spine)

Frankly, I would like to see us stop immigration from those countries whose nationals carry out FGM here. Being a cultural matter it is nigh on impossible to change their ways. Bullfighting is cultural too, but a bit more difficult to hide by someone wanting to do it.

It is absolutly shamefull that we allow Aussie girls to be treated in such a way.

Snappy Tom,

“are you trying to imply that Ayaan Hirsi Ali is lying about being circumcised as well?”
Nope, FGM is a common problematic practice in many African countries and not religion related (Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians for example). My comments is the same as her fellow Somali country girl above: she is unable to distinguish between African traditions and Islamic faith.

Tortasaurus,

Whats interesting that after she lied to get a visa, she became an MP and her first action was to support a regulation to deport asylum seekers and refugees who lied about their status! (please watch the interview again). Europeans (& I am assuming most Aussies except for Alan Jones) saw intellectual dishonesty and hypocrisy in her actions.

The question why there are so many cheerleaders (including Alan Jones) who are marketing her to the Australian public as a leading intellect while she was shown the door in Europe politically and intellectually?

TR,

I notice all the links you provided either are anti or far too conservative views of the Islamic faith.
If you are interested in balanced view, here is a reasonable website:
www.readingislam.com

Irfan,

Whatever Mohammed Bouyeri's mental state, van Gogh was not a "victim of free speech." He was a victim of Mohammed Bouyeri.

Similarly if David Irving were to be assassinated he would not be a "victim of free speech" whatever that means. He would be a victim of whoever did the deed.

Irfan,

Once again you evade my question.

I did not ask you a legal question. I'm not interested in the type of visa Hirsi Ali has.

I asked an opinion question.

My question was:

Do you think the Australian government SHOULD deny Hirsi Ali a visa?

If you were advising the minister would you advise him to deny Hirsi Ali a visa?

In case you're interested, if it were up to me I would have allowed David Irving in to have his say. Appeasing those who want to censor speakers is a dangerous trend. Short of explicit incitement to violence, or slander, people should be free to say whatever they want.