An investigation has documented mass female circumcision ceremonies in Indonesia, where hundreds of girls, some as young as three months old, undergo a form of female genital mutilation (FGM) that involves removing a piece of skin from the clitoral hood. The practice, which the UN condemns and which Indonesia has previously attempted to ban, remains widespread and largely unstoppable due to strong support from religious and community groups who view it as a rite of passage that officially confirms a girl's Muslim identity.

The report highlights events in Bandung, Indonesia's fifth-largest city, where organisations such as the Assalaam Foundation host annual mass ceremonies, with parents registering daughters via WhatsApp before the procedure is carried out in converted school classrooms. Children who undergo the practice reportedly receive a "goodie bag" containing around £8.34 and treats, an incentive noted to be significant for families in poorer communities. In South Sulawesi, adverts on Facebook have promoted similar events for a small financial contribution, while individual ceremonies, such as that of 18-month-old Salsa Djafar in Gorontalo, are also carried out by traditional healers as part of elaborate family celebrations.