German court in circumcision row

[pmaitra]

German court in circumcision row

German court in circumcision row

Circumcision, it decided, contravenes "interests of the child to decide later in life on his religious beliefs".

'Protect religious freedom'
The doctor involved in the case was acquitted and the ruling is not binding, but correspondents say it sets a precedent that would be taken into account by other German courts.

The president of Germany's Central Council of Jews, Dieter Graumann, called it "an unprecedented and dramatic intervention in the right of religious communities to self-determination".

Source: BBC News - German court rules circumcision is 'bodily harm'

 

[Ray]

How does it contravenes "interests of the child to decide later in life on his religious beliefs"?

 

[pmaitra]

How does it contravenes "interests of the child to decide later in life on his religious beliefs"?

I guess, the fact that he cannot grow his foreskin back, although modern medicine might actually make it possible.

On the other hand, is there any religion that makes it mandatory to have the foreskin? If no, then the child can always switch confession, later.

 

[Bangalorean]

Some people argue that removal of foreskin is necessary for "cleanliness". What nonsense - the foreskin is a part of the body that has been placed there by nature to perform certain functions. Foreskin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sometimes it may be essential to have it surgically removed for medical reasons, and that is different. But the people who make the cleanliness argument probably don't have access to soap and running water! In the ancient times in desert regions, removal was essential for the sake of cleanliness, but not in the 21st century.

 

[Mad Indian]

Circumcision reduces the chances of Penile cancer by 50%

 

[Nagraj]

Lol !
God created Man in his Image!
except some extra skin which grew btw his legs.
so men used circumcision to improve upon god's creations!
lol

 

[pmaitra]

Angela Merkel backs circumcision right after German ruling

The German government says Jewish and Muslim communities should be able to continue the practice of circumcision, after a regional court ruled it amounted to bodily harm.

Source: BBC News - Angela Merkel backs circumcision right after German ruling

 

[Known_Unknown]

Some people argue that removal of foreskin is necessary for "cleanliness". What nonsense - the foreskin is a part of the body that has been placed there by nature to perform certain functions. Foreskin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sometimes it may be essential to have it surgically removed for medical reasons, and that is different. But the people who make the cleanliness argument probably don't have access to soap and running water! In the ancient times in desert regions, removal was essential for the sake of cleanliness, but not in the 21st century.

The cleanliness excuse is nonsense! That way if they chop the whole thing off, that area will be even cleaner!

The people who practice circumcision are blindly following barbaric medieval practices while committing assault/bodily harm on another human being! I wish some of these circumcised men grew up and sued their parents for the clothes off their backs for mutilating them for life.

And look at the hypocrisy of it, many western countries ban female circumcision because Muslims practise it, and hence they consider it barbaric, but then they mutilate their own baby's penis, they don't consider it mutilation, then it's for hygiene!

 

[LurkerBaba]

Berlin declares circumcision legal, but only if performed by a doctor

JTA — One of Germany's 16 states has declared circumcision legal, but only if performed by doctors — not, as required by Jewish law, by mohels.

Berlin, Germany's capital and itself a state, is the first to declare the practice legal following a Cologne court ruling in June that non-medical circumcisions on children amounted to a criminal offense, according to DPA, a German news wire. National legislation is pending to legalize circumcision.

State Justice Minister Thomas Heilmann made the announcement Wednesday, saying he felt it necessary to allay fears in this "difficult transitional period," the Associated Press reported.

The Berlin state has authorized only doctors, and not mohels, to perform circumcisions. National legislation could authorize mohels. The state also required that parents be informed of the procedure's medical risks before consenting, and that doctors do everything possible during the procedure to reduce pain and limit bleeding.

June's court ruling led many doctors to stop performing circumcisions in order to avoid being prosecuted. So far, complaints based on the ruling have been filed against two rabbis, although one complaint was dropped last week.

Berlin declares circumcision legal, but only if performed by a doctor -- not as a ritual | The Times of Israel

 

[Ray]

It is a Hamlet like situation/ dilemma.

To cut or not to cut is the question!