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According to some experts, excision dates back to ancient Egypt but
was also practiced on slaves in ancient Rome, and was viewed as an
expression of the right of property on the slave’s body. Infibulation
was also found in Rome, though originally performed only on males. A
sort of pin, fibula, was applied to young men to keep them from having
sexual relations. Female infibulation, on the other hand, seems to have
been practiced in Egypt since the Pharaonic era, as suggested by the
name “Pharaonic circumcision”.

Although different theories have been put forward, the real origin
of female genital mutilation remains unknown for now. We do know for
certain that the practice already existed in sub-Saharan and
Central-Eastern Africa well before the spread of Christian or Islam
religions and that, consequently, there are no links at all between the
two.