- Title: GERMANY: German parliament approves bill allowing circumcision of boys
- Date: 12th December 2012
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 12, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST NEW CIRCUMCISION LAW IN FRONT OF BRANDENBURG GATE CLOSE OF MENORAH SIGN READING: 'MY BODY BELONGS TO ME' PAN TO STAGE WITH PROTESTER SPEAKING MORE OF PROTESTER ON STAGE DRAWING OF BABY AFTER CIRCUMCISION (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNNAMED PASSER-BY, SAYING: "They say it is abuse of the child, of the baby. With the jewish tradition the baby is eight days old and then a part of the foreskin is cut off and these men says it is abuse of children. I am also circumcised, but I don't think I have experienced something which is so painful that I couldn't live with it." (SOUNDBITE) (German) UNNAMED PROTESTER, SAYING: "We are of the opinion that a person should get circumcised, if he can decide for it himself. The age is controversial, 14, 16 or 18 years. But there should be no circumcision only based on the decision of the parents without the boy being able to express a will." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WEARING WHITE OVERALLS WITH FAKE BLOOD STAINS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Health
- Reuters ID: LVA9NS7HZ0O86HU22D8CM21TS9EM
- Story Text: Germany's cabinet approved a draft law on Wednesday (December 12) protecting the right to circumcise infant boys, which it says will end months of legal uncertainty after a local court banned the practice, causing outrage among Muslims and Jews.
The June ruling by a Cologne district court that circumcision constitutes "bodily harm" sparked an emotional national debate about religious freedom and the procedure itself.
An embarrassed German government pledged to bring in new legislation by the autumn to safeguard the right of parents to have their sons circumcised.
The speed with which national lawmakers agreed to draw up a new law underscored sensitivity to charges of intolerance in a country haunted by its Nazi past.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country risked becoming a laughing stock if Jews were not allowed to practise their rituals.
Not everyone agreed with the new law being passed. Protesters demonstrated in front of Brandenburg Gate, saying it would abuse human rights.
"We are of the opinion that a person should get circumcised, if he can decide for it himself. The age is controversial, 14, 16 or 18 years. But there should be no circumcision only based on the decision of the parents without the boy being able to express a will," one protester said.
A passer-by was of a different opinion.
"They say it is abuse of the child, of the baby. With the jewish tradition the baby is eight days old and then a part of the foreskin is cut off and these men says it is abuse of children. I am also circumcised, but I don't think I have experienced something which is so painful that I couldn't live with it," he said.
About 120,000 Jews are registered as living in Germany along with around 4 million Muslims, many of them from Turkey.
The Cologne court, ruling in the case of a Muslim boy who suffered bleeding after circumcision, said the practice inflicted bodily harm and should not be carried out on young boys, although it could be performed on older males with their consent.
Anticipating the government bill, Berlin city authorities announced last month that parents were free to have their sons circumcised without fear of prosecution and the operations resumed in the German capital. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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