The Raelians have championed some strange causes in the movement’s 25-year history, including aliens and human clones, but now they are going to bat for a body part — the clitoris. [video]

Most people will be unfamiliar with this practice, which involves removing part or all of the clitoris, the surrounding labia (the outer part of the vagina) and sometimes the sewing up of the vagina, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual blood.

Egypt has announced that it is imposing a complete ban on female circumcision, also known as genital mutilation.

A Swedish court has jailed a Somali man for four years for forcing his 13-year-old daughter to be circumcised.

LAS VEGAS, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the announcement made by Dr. Lankonade, OBGYN in Burkina Faso, stating that women and children of all ages who have suffered the indignation and torture of clitoral excise (the equivalent of male castration in its barbarity) now have the chance to regain sexual pleasure and once again be whole thanks to medical advances and the progression of science, RAEL, spiritual leader of the Raelian Movement, decided to help as many women as possible to regain their sense of pleasure and founded CLITORAID, a private non-profit organization that will sponsor those who want to have their clitoris rebuilt.

BBC, Mar. 23, 2003