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CONTROVERSIAL: The character Tamasha deliberately hurts herself to avoid being sent abroad to undergo female genital mutilation

A STORYLINE featuring a character who deliberately injures herself to avoid being sent abroad to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) will feature on BBC One's Casualty this weekend.

It is the first time a mainstream broadcaster has tackled the taboo subject in a drama series and will be aired Saturday night (April 13) in the second part of a storyline that follows a young girl called Tamasha.

FGM, sometimes called Female Genital Cutting (FGC) or Female Circumcision (FC), involves the removal of part of the external female genitalia for socio cultural reasons.

There are four types of FGM. Type one is where the clitoris or the clitoral hood is cut off, type two involves the removal of the clitoris and inner lips, type three is where the clitoris, inner lips and outer lips are cut away and the remaining skin is sewn or sealed, leaving only a small opening (infibulation). And type four is all other harmful practices, which could include pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping and burning.

It is a generational practice is prevalent in 28 African countries and parts of the Middle East and Asia. One of the primary reasons for the procedure is that it is beneficial for the girl. The practice is illegal in the UK and it is also illegal to assist in the procedure being done overseas.

In teenager Tamasha's case, as with many other girls that undergo the procedure, she is due to be sent abroad.

Aware of what is about to happen to her, she tries to injure herself then confides in a nurse who suggests she fakes having a severe headache in order to miss the flight.

TRADITIONS: Some of the instruments used for the practice

The two-parter has, however, been met with some criticism. A commenter on Mumsnet, the UK’s biggest social network for parents, posted: "Would you explain this to a 10 year old?

"We were watching the episode and she asked "what just happened" but I didn't want to explain at that moment just before going to bed. Not sure whether to tell her tomorrow or let it lie until she asks again when she's older."

While Lisa Zimmermann, project manager of Integrate Bristol said she was "delighted with the finished work".

"It is handled sensitively without avoiding any of the issues or demonising a particular community group," she told Mail Online

"We are hugely grateful to "Casualty" for having the courage to take on this issue which many people don't want to talk about for fear of offending relatives and communities."

A BBC spokesman said: "Casualty has a long history of tackling issues, which reflect modern day life and with the growing awareness of FGM this is an issue that has very much been brought to the forefront.

"We consulted a number of organisations when developing the storyline and characters, and have taken advice from the BBC’s editorial policy advisers to ensure the material is appropriate for the time slot."