By: Abdoulie John
In a dramatic day of testimony that held the Supreme Court spellbound, the Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Dr. Moustapha Bittaye, has delivered a powerful medical indictment of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), declaring that any practice linked to numerous deaths must be outlawed.
Testifying for the second time on Tuesday, Dr. Bittaye faced a rigorous and meticulously prepared cross-examination by plaintiffs’ lawyer Lamin J. Darbo. His evidence came during a landmark constitutional challenge in which National Assembly Member Almamy Gibba and several anti-FGM activists are seeking to overturn Gambia’s law prohibiting the traditional but harmful practice.
Far from offering rehearsed responses, the senior medical official detailed the severe, long-term consequences suffered by women and girls who undergo FGM/C. He listed complications including clitoral keloids, sexual dysfunction, life-threatening bleeding during childbirth, and significantly worsened reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. “Any action associated with so many deaths should be banned,” Dr. Bittaye told the court.
The witness repeatedly emphasized that FGM/C brings no societal benefit. Citing a comparative study, he said the evidence is “overwhelming” that the practice harms rather than helps those subjected to it, even as he acknowledged its deep cultural roots in Gambian society. The study, he explained, was designed specifically to highlight the disproportionate challenges faced by women living with the effects of FGM/C.
The case has gripped national attention as it pits defenders of the cultural tradition against medical professionals, women’s rights advocates, and the existing legal prohibition. Tuesday’s marathon session marked a critical turning point in proceedings before the Supreme Court.
Presiding Judge Cherno Sulayman Jallow adjourned the hearing as the judiciary prepares to go on vacation. Lawyers will be informed of the next sitting date once the judicial calendar resumes.
The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications not only for Gambia but for regional efforts to eradicate FGM/C across West Africa. Medical experts and campaigners hope Dr. Bittaye’s testimony will strengthen the defense of the ban, while opponents argue the law infringes on cultural and religious freedoms.
