At ten years of age, Cathy AbahFouda was a normal little girl. Sadly, Cathy's innocence was shattered when her mother decided that her breasts were growing too fast, and had them physically beaten away. Please sign this petition to ask the Head of the House of Commons Rt Hon Chris Grayling to outlaw this outdated cultural practice that amounts to torture.
Breast ironing is common in Africa, and now it is happening in Great Britain. Young girls are beaten on their breasts with weapons heated over hot coals. Anything from rocks to hammers are left to heat up and then used to "iron" developing breasts into oblivion. The idea is that by removing their breast tissue, these girls will be less sexually attractive and less likely to become pregnant at a young age, preventing them bringing shame on their families. The real shame is that Cathy was so brainwashed into thinking that her breasts were bad she started beating them herself. Cathy suffered permanent physical damage that resulted in surgery, and now she cannot feed her baby. The mental damage to the girls who are forced to endure this process is unimaginable.
Breast ironing can be classified as assault, but we need to recongise this specific crime and take action to stop it. Please sign this petition to demand that Rt Hon Chris Grayling makes breast ironing a criminal offence, and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted - and that the victims are provided with medical care and support.
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There are countless more like Cathy, disfigured and unable to feed their children. There are many more currently being tortured as we speak. Help these poor girls. What is happening to them is already illegal under laws classifying assault. They are helpless to stop this themselves. Unless Chris Grayling does something to stop it, young girls across the U.K will be brutally tortured for nothing more than developing breasts.
