Today the biggest newspaper in Finland Helsingin Sanomat reported on a Muslim mother being prosecuted for getting her son circumcised. A custom which the Finns are not comfortable with and is illegal, does not seem to receive any sympathy from the country.
Last week I saw an article on BBC about a gay couple facing a full trial in Malawi, and are charged with gross indecency. Mind you, this is a black Malawian gay couple, not European tourists.
In Malawi circumcision would never be illegal - and in Finland being gay in this day and age would never be illegal. These may seem like small extreme examples of cultural differences. But they are issues that can give an idea of the bigger picture of how difficult it will be for different cultures and customs to maintain and mix at the same time. Having lived in Finland and Malawi's neighbouring country Tanzania, I completely sympathise with both cultures and views. I feel sorry for the lady who did not know that the obvious cultural custom is illegal in Finland - and then again I'm happy for the boy who did not have to go through with the circumcision in his 20s or 30s in another country, when it would have been so much more painful for him. I also understand that in African customs being gay is a definite no-no, and a cultural taboo. But I sympathise with the couple who defied all cultural norms for their love and got engaged last December; and have been through hell since then.
Who is to say what is right and wrong? Is the West allowed to dominate its views in the 21st Century and tell African nations that being gay should be allowed, especially since it is such a detested subject in the different cultures in Africa? Who is to tell Muslims that they are not allowed to follow their customs if they are done in accordance to health and safety, and will not harm the child? The UK and Norway have warned Malawi that it may risk international isolation if it does not respect human rights. I have not heard any Muslim nations raising up to Finland about the issue on circumcision - how about religious and cultural rights?
I am all for human rights - but it seems like the rules are always laid down by Western organisations and nations. Perhaps the Muslim lady should have taken her baby to another country to get circumcised. But then again, circumcision is legal in the USA, and done by professionals in a safe way. Why not make this a possibility in Finland? For the gay couple in Malawi I cannot find a solution... It will take decades before Africans can come to terms with homosexuality and agree to it in public. UK and Norway threatening to draw out their development aid will mostly be a disappointment to the diplomats in the UK and Norway, who will have to leave the beautiful country...
