Somali-Irish activist Ifrah Ahmed is one of the world's foremost campaigners against Female Genital Mutilation. Ahmed came to Ireland in 2006 after fleeing her war-torn home country and during a medical examination it was found that she had suffered terrible trauma as a result of FGM. A founding member of the United Youth of Ireland, she has been gender adviser to the prime minister of Somalia and has worked with Unicef, Amnesty International and the Irish Refugee Council.

In today’s podcast she talks to Kathy Sheridan about her decision to channel the anger she felt about her experience of FGM and turn it into a force for change. “If I didn’t speak, how many more girls would be the victim of FGM today?” she says. Now her life story has been made into a film by director and producer Mary McGuckian. McGuckian joins Ahmed in this podcast to talk about that film, A Girl From Mogadishu.

Before you go – A reminder that our sixth and final 'Big Night In' will happen this Saturday December 12th 2020, with the wonderful broadcaster Olivia O’Leary. If you haven’t got a ticket remember you can still get them on www.irishtimes.com/bignightin and keep an eye on our Instagram too as we’ll also be giving away some tickets.