I Suffered Female Genital Mutilation & Was Forced Into Marriage | Extraordinary Lives | @LADbible

Thanks to Shamsa for taking part! Follow her charity Garden of Peace, her youth work and love for truth and healing. Instagram: shamsaaraweelo Charity Instagram: Gardenof.peace Tiktok: shamsa.araweeloo

The guy doing the interview is exceptional! He allows the conversation to flow, interjects only when necessary, shows genuine sympathy and emotion, very polite, really first class well done ! This is why I lean towards channels like this and all the more so as MSM continues to pander to "celebrity". Shamsa shows unbelievable courage to open up in what is a harrowing story, excellent content!

As a Somali woman, I cried my eyes out listening to this story. I was born and raised in Canada, and my parents don’t believe in the barbaric practice of FGM. But it tears my heart to pieces that my own mother, Shamsa, and so many women had to go through this 💔

I am glad this gal gave lots of details. People need to completely understand this if they are to change it. Genital mutilation and forced rape marriage destroys every part of a person. So, so horrible. 😭

every time i hear someone say “the world no longer needs feminism” i think of stories like this. the amount of abuse women and girls still face everywhere around the world is horrific.

I worked as a Specialist Gynaecology Nurse for around 3 1/2 years in a small town in the UK. I saw around 30 cases of FGM, it was horrific and heartbreaking. The worst of it was some of the female’s were young girls who came in with their mothers, and when I told them I’d be making a referral to the safeguarding team and possibly the police (dependent on the case), the mothers would scream at me that I had no right to tell them what was wrong and right regarding their parenting decisions, their religious beliefs, culture and what was best for their daughters future. I also saw adults who were embarrassed, scared, suffered severely with smear examinations, menstruation and intimacy with their partners. With adults a referral to safeguarding is still made, consent or not and rightfully so, as they can still offer counselling services, referrals for surgery to help with complications and very importantly help to ensure the cycle is not repeated with their own children. Even if a female has a clitoral piercing safeguarding is informed as it is classed as a form of FGM. Every case of FGM completely broke my heart, I cried every time I saw a case after my shift ended and I’d be at home reflecting on what I’d seen and the complications it causes, no matter the age of the patient. Not only that the torture the patient must have endured during the procedure.. After that 3 1/2 years I moved into Specialist Dialysis nursing. However, not long after I left the Gynaecology unit a doctor was arrested in the neighbouring city around 30 minutes from me who’d performed FGM procedures in an NHS hospital. Sick, twisted and evil, but described by his co workers as a wonderful person with a kind heart. It’s happening under our noses.. and we don’t even see the evil in front of us. My heart is with this woman and every woman and child that has gone and will go through FGM 💔😢

After having 4 children and going through the pain of being torn, cut, sewn all with medication, i can NOT imagine going through that as a child & without so much as a numbing agent! The level of cruely and abuse, there are no words for it. My heart goes out to these women. I hope one day this can be stopped.

I went to school with a young lady that had this done to her. I cried so hard for her. You could see the pain in her eyes

I truly remember this very vividly, I am a mother of two and I would literally choose to go through labor nine more times than go through FGM again, my heart breaks for all the little girls who went through this and will go through this

This is probably one of the worst stories of gender based violence and abuse I have ever heard. It was honestly a culture shock. Shamza did such a vulnerable thing sharing this story and opening up like this, the fact that she’s sharing this to improve futures of other woman’s like her, amazing well done

This is an incredible yet moving narrative. My sympathies to her. No woman should ever have to go through this. It's just brutal.

As a Somali now woman who under went this unthinkable thing. I agree with my sister shams on a lot of the things she experienced because it happened to me too. I will never forget that day though I have forgiven my late mother (God rest her soul). It’s something that has been done to my mom and every woman in my family and will never happen to my little girls. It’s honestly shocking especially when what’s happening to you is not even explained to you. I can remember the feeling of my “parts” being cut and sewn. I don’t remember beyond bit and pieces but I remember having a hard time peeing ext… please help q as support against this!

The negligence of the doctors in the UK who did nothing to help her is crazy

Born and raised in a small remote village in Kenya , I understand where she is coming from, I remember I had my periods at age 13, I was terrified, no one ever talked about it, no one wants to talk about it, no pads to say the least. Only torn old clothes and blankets, leaves and chicken feathers... My mom never even cared, she wouldn't spend a coin to get pads for me. I remember I stole one pad from her drower and she almost killed me. Just bleeding with nothing like pad was a nightmare, I wished I was born a boy back then, I hated everything about being a girl. Some things hurt differently, some pain pain hard. Even today whenever I think about some of the things I went through as a young girl I get upset. 😢 Am so sorry about this story she went through hell I can't even imagine 😭

Wow, I was so humbled to hear Shamsa's story. As a WHITE BRITISH female social worker who has helped safeguard children and young people against both FGM and Forced Marriage/Honour Based Violence/killings in the UK, I cannot thank Ladbible TV enough for allowing Shamsa the time, safe space and opportunity to tell her lived experience in order to raise awareness. I remember a 10yr old child describing to me her "cutting party" as a 5 year old, and thought she was going to die from the pain. This is something done for purely for sexual gratification of men, to heighten their sexual pleasure, no benefit to the woman whatsoever, other than horrific pain, with many often dying from sepsis shock or major infection. Shamsa, you truly are a survivor. Thank you for your honesty and your bravery. Much love and peace to you xxx

The interviewer asked all the right questions and especially sensitive. Very thorough Shamsa so proud of you. Can't even imagine what you went through.

5, 6, and 7 year old little girls?! What?! How could a mother do that to her little girl?! Full well knowing the trauma of that experience because she went through it herself as a little girl.

shamsa is one of the most beautiful souls I’ve ever seen. To be abused as a child in the most violating, painful way but still be a beautiful person with love for mankind is inspiring. thank you for bringing her back. She is a FABULOUS activist indeed ❤

What a brave, beautiful, strong woman. I'm absolutely disgusted by FGM - it is barbaric and anyone caught doing it/participating should face a mandatory 50-year jail sentence.

This woman is so damn lovely. My heart and brain can not wrap around the fact that after all she’s been through she is so well spoken and strong. I am so proud of her for becoming who she has become and “proud” feels like such unworthy word for what I actually feel for her.