There is Female Genital Mutilation and then there is Female Circumcision. Circumcision is from the tradition of the prophet Abraham. All that other mutilation stuff comes from peoples' cultures. The proper way for circumcision in both males and females is by removing a portion of the foreskin of the penis/clitoris, not the whole thing!

Read the NYTimes article below for more info, also read the Islamic ruling on the issue from www.islam-qa.com...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/magazine/20circumcision-t.html

http://islam-qa.com/en/ref/60314/female%20circumcision

-AA