Arab society adheres to cultural, traditional, and religious norms that discourage premarital sexual relation. Virginity may be lost not only through consensual intercourse, but also as a result of sexual abuse and trauma.
What options available?
In the USA also, the doctor helps such women who needs hymenoplasty surgery. In the context of Saudi Arabia, a clandestine practice is on the rise – hymenoplasties, the surgical restoration of hymen, which signify virginity when intact.
These surgeries, often sought by Saudi women, are shrouded in secrecy. Some women who fear the consequences of premarital sex, as per certain interpretations of Islamic law, undergo hymen-repair surgeries.
Some women even dress as someone else to hide their identity during these procedures, which are frequently performed in secret and under false pretences. Although many of these ladies reside in the United States with their family or to pursue their education, they return home to look for compatible mates.
Doctors report a notable increase in demand for hymen repair surgery in recent years, with some even reporting threats in the process despite the lack of official statistics.
What is hymenoplasty?
In modern times, various cosmetic procedures, such as hymenoplasty or hymen reconstruction surgery, offer the possibility of obtaining a new hymen and other body enhancements. The hymen, a thin membrane in the vaginal canal, usually ruptures due to physical activity or sexual intercourse.
Hymenoplasty, or hymenorrhaphy, offers women a way to reconstruct their hymen, often driven by cultural expectations that highly esteem female virginity and view the premarital loss of virginity as socially unacceptable. Most women from Saudi Arabia travel to Dubai for hymenoplasty surgery.
Hymen Repair and Religious Opinion
A recent fatwa issued by renowned Islamic preacher Shaikh Salman Al Ouda has ignited a heated debate within Saudi society, particularly among religious circles. The fatwa centres on the permissibility of hymen repair surgeries.
During his participation in a program named “Hajar Al Zawiya” on the MBC channel, Dr. Al Ouda ruled that such surgeries can be deemed permissible in specific circumstances.
He noted that there exist varying opinions among Islamic scholars regarding the acceptability of hymen repair through surgical means. However, he personally leans towards its permissibility, provided that the woman undergoing the procedure views it as a form of repentance.
Controversy over Hymenoplasty in Saudi Arabia
Prominent Islamic preacher Shaikh Salman Al Ouda has issued a fatwa sparking debate on the permissibility of hymen repair surgeries in Saudi society.
Dr. Al Ouda stated that hymenoplasty in Saudi Arabia is acceptable under certain circumstances, particularly when a woman’s life and future are at risk, highlighting the alarming statistic of approximately 5,000 women killed annually due to this issue.
However, scholars who support hymen repair stress that it should not be misused to conceal immoral acts. World Islamic Scholars’ Federation Deputy President Shaikh Abdullah Bin Bayya deems it permissible if the loss occurs due to accidents or assaults, provided the woman is sincere in her repentance.
Final word
Hymenoplasty, a controversial surgical procedure aimed at hymen reconstruction, is at the centre of a heated debate in Saudi Arabia, with differing religious opinions and societal pressures. However, women from Saudi Arab may visit Dr. Nazmi Baycin who is the best doctor to help them in Dubai