FGM Activist Life in Danger

In the heart of Sierra Leone, Salma Kamara, a brave activist, embarked on a relentless journey against the harrowing practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Growing up, she endured unimaginable trauma at the hands of the Bondo society, facing excruciating pain and familial pressure to succumb to tradition. Despite the offer of a prestigious role within the society, Salma steadfastly refused, determined to protect the rights of young girls in her community.

Joining the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) as a teenager, Salma dedicated herself to eradicating FGM in Sierra Leone. Despite facing threats of violence and death from both strangers and family members deeply entrenched in the tradition, Salma fearlessly advocated for awareness and education.

Tragically, Salma and her husband, Tejan Jalloh, lost their first daughter to FGM, a devastating blow that strengthened Salma’s resolve to fight against the practice. When pressure mounted for her second daughter, Malaika Tejan Jalloh, to undergo FGM, Salma refused to subject her child to the same fate, despite facing ostracization from her community.

As Salma spoke out publicly about her experiences and the dangers of FGM, she became a target for persecution. Even seeking help from the community police proved futile, as the head of the Family Support Unit (FSU) was a former leader of the Bondo society.

With her life at risk and no security in her homeland, Salma made the difficult decision to flee and seek asylum abroad, leaving behind everything she knew in pursuit of safety and justice. Her courageous journey serves as a beacon of hope for women everywhere, a testament to the resilience and unwavering determination to fight for human rights in the face of overwhelming adversity.