They go some way towards explaining why excision is still popular. There is a strong desire for continuity and excision is often seen as a way of counteracting female education and protecting against the sexual freedom that is in danger of undermining the family. In fact, even in primary school, girls are sometimes seduced and even sexually abused by their teachers. Apart from that, government schools have failed to come up to expectations. That's why in this strongly Islamised province there's been a big increase in medersas , Islamic schools funded by the parents which teach religious studies, arithmetic and natural sciences.
Excision is unknown in the Gulf states, except for Oman.
The majority reject it, with the notable exception of a few Egyptian Islamists who set themselves up as defenders of the medical profession's right to make a living from excision. It was also a living for 44-year old Mariam Nebie, whose mother and grandmother both practised excision. Since a short prison sentence in 1995, she has confined herself to circumcising boys. He says that fear of the police does have a deterrent effect. Last year the SOS-excision unit received around 20 calls.