Children's Rights Commissioner's words on girls' circumcision provoke indignation in social networks

Children's Rights Commissioner Anna Kuznetsova referred the issue of female circumcision to the medical field. That has provoked indignation of social network users who insist that mutilations are unacceptable.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 1, the "Legal Initiative" published a study, according to which every year, in Dagestan, about 1240 girls fell victim to female genital mutilation. The authors of the study concluded that the practice of female circumcision takes place with the tacit support of men and the state does not take any steps to stop it.

In November, the website of a Moscow clinic offered services of circumcision for girls, the "Medusa" reported. "There are no medical indications for such a surgery, and an intervention can be carried out for religious or ritual reasons," the edition quoted the clinic's website as stating.

"The question is very medical. Therefore, if health care officers say it is harmful, that cannot be done. This is a question for medical officers," said Anna Kuznetsova, Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the Russian Federation.

Facebook user Dilyara Tasbulatova has expressed her indignation about the fact that the Children's Rights Commissioner failed to voice fundamental rejection of such mutilations.

A person who believes that the circumcision of girls is a medical, rather than a legal matter, cannot hold the office of the Children's Rights Commissioner, believes Natalia Maximova.

Furthermore, many users explained Anna Kuznetsova's words by her professional incompetence.