It is the first time in Germany that a religious practice has been criminalised, the paper said. The judgement is expected to set a legal precedent, said The Telegraph.
The matter arose after a Muslim couple took their four-year-old son to be circumcised. The little boy was hospitalised several days later after experiencing heavy bleeding.
The doctor responsible for the circumcision was charged with grievous bodily harm, although later acquitted after a lower court ruled he had performed the operation with parental consent and thus had acted within the law.
The regional court also acquitted the doctor on appeal, but for different reasons. It ruled the doctor was innocent owing to the legal confusion around circumcision.
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“The decision is contrary to human rights charter of the European Union, to which the German legal system is committed, and undermines the basic right to worship in the German Constitution.”
However Professor Holm Putzke, a law expert from Passau University in Germany said: “This ruling has enormous significance for doctors.
He added the decision “may not only influence future rulings, but also brings about a change in the worldview of religious people regarding the basic rights of children.”
The ruling specified circumcision was not illegal if carried out for medical reasons.
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Circumcising young boys for religious reasons amounts to grievous bodily harm, a German court has ruled.
The Cologne regional court ruled “the fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity ...
Circumcising young boys for religious reasons amounts to grievous bodily harm, a German court has ruled.
The Cologne regional court ruled “the fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity ...
(Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman promised Germany's Jewish and Muslim communities on Friday they would be free to carry out circumcision on young boys...
BERLIN — A German court's decision that ritual circumcision amounts to criminal bodily harm threatens religious freedom in Europe, a group of European Orthodox rabbis...
JERUSALEM -- An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday denounced a ruling in Germany banning ritual circumcision, saying the decision infringes upon religious freedom and evokes...
BERLIN — Germany's foreign minister on Sunday offered assurances that Germany protects religious traditions after a court ruled that circumcising young boys on religious grounds...
Jewish and Muslim communities have expressed outrage about a ruling emanating from a German court that apparently limits the freedom of those wishing to practice a ritual circumcision. But before we condemn, more information is necessary.
Circumcision is the ultimate violation on basic human rights. Kudos for the Germans to stand up for the rights of the child. US had a chance to do the right thing by starting with San Francisco's ban on circumcision. Too bad the politicians decided it might cost votes to protect innocent children. It is time to abandon these heinous practices. I am circumcised and I hate having had it done to me. No one should have had the right to make this decision for me.
By the way, I have many complications causes by my circumcision that my intact friends don't. Please Please Please stop this practice. Religion should not get a pass on mutilating genitals just because it is done for religious reasons. This is not a religious issue, it is a human rights issue. When you are an adult, you can choose for yourself.
gymdaddy57: Circumcision is the ultimate violation on basic human rights. Kudos
From everything I've read, from the mouths of doctors and pediatricians I've spoken to, there isn't a single medical reason for circumcision. If they state there is, and you do it for that reason, you have grounds to sue if anything goes wrong. And for the record, newborns do feel pain. How dare anyone harm a child in the name of religion/tradition.
My husband and I had a huge argument over circumcision (I was for it and he was against it, and he is circumcised). I looked into his side of the argument, and when I got my facts straight and I pulled my head out of my ignorant/Christian a**, I ultimately decided against it, and I will always be against it.
Alice_Edy: From everything I've read, from the mouths of doctors and
Did you even read her post? Her circumcised husband was the one who convinced her not to have it done.
Unlike you, it sounds like her husband carefully researched the facts of the operation and realized that there is no reason to force medically unnecessary genital cutting on a defenseless infant.
DjangoDurango: Did you even read her post? Her circumcised husband was
It is about time that our children were defended against the superstitions of their parents. If the religious have a defense for circumcision , let us hear it.
John_Christie: It is about time that our children were defended against
The practice of male genital mutilation is far older than recorded history. It seems to have originated in eastern Africa (prior to the Bronze Age).8 21
Many theories have been advanced to explain the origin of genital mutilation. One theory postulates that circumcision began as a way of "purifying" individuals and society by reducing sexuality and sexual pleasure. Human sexuality was seen as dirty or impure in some societies; hence cutting off the pleasure-producing parts was the obvious way to "purify" someone.
It is a direct quote from the referenced article. Not my own words. Forgot to put it in quotes. The male and female foreskin naturally protects the much, much more sensitive glans. LOL indeed.
JPETERB: It is a direct quote from the referenced article. Not
It is almost funny that many people who are vehemently opposed to male circumcision are the kinds who vehemently support abortion and think tongue,lip, nipple, clitoral and penile studs are cool - not to mention numerous tattoos !
GearoidOD: It is almost funny that many people who are vehemently
Why do you think this is funny. In regards to the piercings, they are normally done by adults on their own bodies (little girls having earrings done is the exception which I also think should not be allowed).
The argument is, that if the person wants it done for religious reasons, then they should decide for themselves, not have parents decide for them.
Also, why is it different, when circumcision on boys is done on religious grounds, but it is banned by all Western Countries and by more and more 3rd world countries for girls? Are girls more worthy of being protected than boys?
No one even mentioned how often something goes wrong.
A friend of mine had to be circumcised for medical reasons when he was about that age of the boy, and he remembers how much it hurt afterwards.
So, please do not say the child doesn't remember - they do! And how parents can inflict pain on their child for religious reasons is beyond me!
Bettina_Hall: Why do you think this is funny. In regards to
The gods demand sacrifice. Always have. The all too human gods too. That is what willful murder and war is, one person sacrifices another person for their own private or public gods. Then they become their god's hero. The sacrificed person is now that god's property, dead or alive.
JPETERB: The gods demand sacrifice. Always have. The all too human
"please do not say the child doesn't remember - they do! And how parents can inflict pain on their child for religious reasons is beyond me!
Dont be so ridiculous - I was circumcised - What knid of mombo jumbo cult do you belong to ?
GearoidOD: "please do not say the child doesn't remember - they
Laws are sometimes updated as knowledge develops, take BSE, electricity and legionaire's disease for example. Religion has escaped this process for centuries, perhaps now is the time to revise their 'freedom' in line with scientific fact. If religious argument wins on the day, so be it, if not, don't be frightened to ban.
Gods_own_child: Laws are sometimes updated as knowledge develops, take BSE, electricity
Perhaps they do it because they think they are created in the image of god. Well if god did have his 4skin cut off thats one big bit of skin, perhaps the size of America which is full of kn*b ends.
pj66: Perhaps they do it because they think they are created
On medical grounds perhaps.
I have known some friends (male) who have been forced to have the operation in their early twenties due to thhe foreskin preventing a complete erection. Agony that you cannot control.
Not a nice procedure at that age.
wixies: On medical grounds perhaps. I have known some friends (male)
Supposing an adulterer was being stoned, would it be wrong to stop that? This case referred to 'muslims', What about someone exorcising their posessed child by beating them, perhaps to death, it happens. Is that OK. This is about human beings, all of whom are born non-jewish, non-muslim, non-any religion. Why does it have to be about religion, supposing you like dog fighting for example, if that were part of a 'religion' should that be protected as well?
Gods_own_child: Supposing an adulterer was being stoned, would it be wrong
Actually it is proven that circumsition can have positive long term health benefits. It is more hygenic apparently. The point is why should any state meddle in these affairs?
Jabron33: Actually it is proven that circumsition can have positive long
Lets hope it covers female circumcision as well. It is a barbaric practice for both sexes and should be totally banned. No one, including religious people have the right to violate and cause grievous bodily harm to anyone, for any reason!
ShipsBoy: Lets hope it covers female circumcision as well. It is
There is no comarision between male and female circumcision - For Gods sake would people at least make some effort to find out about the things they are posting on !!!
GearoidOD: There is no comarision between male and female circumcision -
There is no comparison? Why? Because having it done is even worse for girls than for boys? Because nothing ever goes wrong when done for boys - the case above certainly shows differently.
Why is it right to inflict pain on a child for religious reasons. And in my book, it doesn't matter how young a boy is when it is done, it is still pain that is inflicted. Religion should never cause anyone to feel bodily pain.
Bettina_Hall: There is no comparison? Why? Because having it done is
I don't care what your views are religiously, but the bottom line is circumcision is mutilation! And I'd be remiss if I did not add: me thinks that this is why men are so f-Ed up. :-)
Tenajroc: I don't care what your views are religiously, but the
Why don't you google dangers of male circumcision... and let us face it, in the case above, it was done under medical conditions and still something went wrong. That is why doctors have malpractice insurance. If they really were the gods in white you and a lot of people think they are, then they would never require it.
Only because it was done to you, and you were lucky that there were no complications doesn't make it right.
Bettina_Hall: Why don't you google dangers of male circumcision... and let
When not to circumcise is even written into Hebrew law. Sensible enough.
Circumcision originated before the dawn of history. There was no knowledge of sanitation or the need for a sterile operating environment. Jews have traditionally performed circumcision on the eighth day after birth for many thousands of years. The medical literature was still reporting numerous deaths from ritual circumcision in the early twentieth century.2, 3 There must have been vast numbers of babies who died under those conditions through the centuries. Jewish law allows parents who have had three sons die from circumcision to leave the fourth son intact.6
why just Muslims? Jews and many Christian sects also do circumcision. Infact it is the Jewish concept that the other faiths follow, which pre-dates Islam by two thousand years.
maz0110: why just Muslims? Jews and many Christian sects also do
'Circumcision' is sexual abuse and genital mutilation. There is no good reason for it. There is no evidence that it decreases the risk of contracting HIV or any other STD, and, even if it did, that would not justify it: babies are not going to be having sex any way. If, later in life, someone wants to be circumcised, that is up to him. All medically unnecessary wounding of babies should be banned, and that should include ear-rings, etc.
Circumcision-advocates throughout history, e.g. Maimonides and John Harvey Kellogg, have been very clear: the aim of circumcision is to decrease sexual pleasure. The foreskin of the penis actually contains more nerve-endings than the clitoris (female genital mutilation is illegal in many countries, including the UK). It is not a minor issue. 30% of males globally are circumcised, including over 50% in the US, over 30% in Canada, over 80% in South Korea, over 90% in the Philippines, virtually 100% in Israel, and large majorities in Muslim-majority countries.
DJPotterWriter: 'Circumcision' is sexual abuse and genital mutilation. There is no
It seems clear your views are prejudiced by your feelings about religion.The reality about male circumcission is that it would tend to increase 'staying' power for men by reducing the tendency to ejaculate too early due to over sensitivity of the penis. There is simply no comparison between female and amle cincuncission - I cannot beleive the number of posters who are equating the two !
GearoidOD: It seems clear your views are prejudiced by your feelings
Where do I mention religion, and in what way am I prejudiced? I am using facts. It is a fact, that Kellogg and Maimonides said that circumcision was meant to decrease sexual pleasure. It's a fact that the foreskin of the penis contains more nerve-endings than the clitoris.
As I say, a baby is not meant to have sex! If someone later in life wants to get circumcised, to increase staying power as you allege, or for any other reason, that is up to him. Circumcision is not reversible, not medically necessary, has not been shown to have any benefit, and has been promoted solely to reduce sexual pleasure. It is also painful and dangerous, as the foreskin of a baby's penis is actually fused to the head of the penis: detaching it risks serious trauma.
If I had been circumcised against my will, I would sue. It is nothing more than child sex abuse. Some religions mandate child-sacrifice: should we allow that too? We don't want to be 'prejudiced', do we?
DJPotterWriter: Where do I mention religion, and in what way am
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Huffington Post UK | By Sara C Nelson Posted: 27/06/2012 11:58 Updated: 27/06/2012 13:32