He added: "We are a population whose men suffer from sexual weakness, which is evident because Egypt is among the biggest consumers of sexual stimulants that only the weak will consume.
"If we stop [female genital mutilation], we will need strong men and we don’t have men of that sort."
Nine out of 10 Egyptian women between the ages 15 to 49 have undergone FGM, according to the 2015 Egyptians Health Issues Survey.
FGM entails the removal of some or all female external genitalia normally on a pre-pubescent girl using a razor, sometimes without anaesthetic.
FGM tribal circumcision ceremony in Baringo County
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There is no medical justification for FGM, indeed it can lead to long-term problems with sex, childbirth and mental health.
While banned in many countries including the UK, it has long been a common practice across Africa.
Between January and March, the NHS recorded 1,242 new cases of FGM including 11 girls born in the UK.
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