KUWAIT: Families of some mentally-disabled girls consumed with fear about their daughters' future and their own reputations have used this as an excuse to remove their wombs as soon as they reach puberty, according to a report in Al-Qabas daily. Head of the genetic diseases center at the maternity hospital Dr Laila Bastaki said several such surgeries have been conducted in Kuwait upon the request of parents.

Obstetrics, gynecology and infertility consultant Dr Naheda Al-Ali said many hysterectomies on girls with severe mental disabilities, clinical cases and those suffering from brain paralysis have been done upon parents' requests and doctors' approval. She added that she herself had taken part in three out of five hysterectomies she witnessed when she worked at the maternity hospital.

Meanwhile, psychologists and sociologists said parents resort to such surgeries due to sexual taboos and lack of awareness in Gulf societies. They called for boosting parental awareness on how to deal with such children of various ages. Legally speaking, a number of lawyers said such surgeries must be incriminated unless they are done for compelling medical reasons.

Dr Ahmed Al-Kurdi, a cleric at the awqaf ministry's fatwa department, said removing the womb or any other organ is religiously forbidden unless done for medical reasons. "There is no use of removing a mentally-disabled girl's womb, as this will not protect her from being raped or sexually assaulted," he underlined.