Parliament adopts law allowing circumcision
Published: 12 Dec 12 17:12 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121212-46737.html
Germany's parliament passed a law on Wednesday to allow religious circumcision, clarifying the legal situation after a court said the rite amounted to grievous bodily harm in a ruling that caused international uproar.
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The legislation states that male infants may be circumcised for religious reasons within six months of their birth by a "specially trained" practitioner, although this person does not have to be a doctor.
Nevertheless, the rite must be carried out "in a professional medical manner," the law states and stipulates exemptions for infants who could be at risk from the practice such as haemophiliacs.
The legislation sought to clear up confusion after a judgement published in June by the regional court in the western city of Cologne.
While considering a case brought against a doctor who had circumcised a Muslim boy, the court ruled the rite was tantamount to grievous bodily harm. The decision united Jewish and Muslim groups in opposition and caused outrage from religious and political leaders in Israel and Muslim countries.
"I am pleased and relieved about the decision of the German parliament," said Dieter Graumann, president of the German Jewish Council.
The law "finally restores legal certainty and hopefully ends the often unfortunate debate that took place in 2012," he added. German politicians had acted "quickly and responsibly" and they deserve "praise and respect" for this, Graumann said.
Diplomats had admitted that the ruling proved "disastrous" for Germany's international image, particularly in light of its Nazi past.
Merkel was reported to have warned that Germany risked becoming a "laughing stock" if it banned circumcision.
Germany is home to about four million Muslims and more than 200,000 Jews.
AFP/mry
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Your comments about this article:
Just need to decide how much this failure will influence my vote come next election. Not a big issue, unless you're the kid getting cut up.
The German legislature has no backbone to stand up for minor¦#39;s rights against physical abuse. They are nothing more than a lap dog for the Jewish and Muslim pressure groups. Since that is the case then let¦#39;s go ahead and legalize four wives for the Muslims…after all its part of their religion, isn¦#39;t it? How about we go one step further and approve sharia law for the Muslims living in Germany.
@repatriated: its a pity that your thing was shortened without your consent and now your girl friend dumped you coze you cannot satisfy her needs.......:P buahahaha!
As far as I'm aware travel to the countries above is not restricted so go there to physically abuse your children in the name of your god but don't make this country take a step backwards from real progress .
One other thought why are daughters not named? is it not sexist, physically abuse to them is in some parts of the world perfectly alright if god says so.
p.s. You don't have to book a return ticket if you would rather live in that system.
...and I add, just because something has been done for years and has become a 'tradition', does not qualify it as right, or legal.
The court in this case was right in its judgment and Fr. Dr. Merkel is wrong. Germany is now a laughing stock but not because of a principled decision of its courts.
If religions demand circumcision, then let it be done when the child is an adult and is capable of deciding for itself.
You are an idiot. My comment had nothing to do with the nature of your response. By the way, I did not have my thing shortened as you indicated, because I am neither Jewish nor Muslim. I also didn't force my son to go through this primitive and useless procedure.
Laughing stock from who?
This chancellor Merkel has ran out of things to take cosideration of. Tell me , what has circumcision to do with Germany? When in Rome you are expected to do as the Romans do. Not everything, of course, but not for such typical cultural things like circumcision. This is a preserve of those countries from where these owns have originated - totally nothing to do with Germany.
Now people can you blame the good and gratiouos Germans when they complain about Auslanders?
Get it from me : this is a recipe for a start of a disaster in Germany. There are so many issues,deserving issues,swept under the carpet only to get this sickening issue getting PRIO 1 from the chancellor ! FOR WHAT !
OK they will vote for her after this X-mas. The swing votes.
It must be remembered that a majority can be just as much of a dictator than a single man. Democracy is about more than rule by the people; it's also about protecting the rights and desires of the minority as long as their rights and desires do not infringe upon yours.
Circumcision of babies is not child abuse; it's not even remembered by the child, and the medical opinion of it goes back and forth on benefits and disadvantages. It's certainly nothing that is going to be put you at any sort of relevant medical disadvantage in your adult life. So, at the end of the day, it's not anything that really effects you or society at large in any significant way. As such, there's no reason to ban it. Especially not if you consider that banning it would force compliance on religious groups that have been practicing it for thousands of years. You do not have a right to extend your own beliefs that far.
Don't be so quick to trample on the desires of others, for if you do, you might find that some day they come to trample on your desires with an equally vocal mob.
all of you winy commentators just trying to force your "democratic" opinion on others.
I find the result of the procedure (which must be medically performed only by doctor), the result is more healthy and more appealing.
Dont lie to yourself and consider yourself defenders of democracy, you are just haters or maybe not, at least other-opinions-not-accepting.
"bodily harm" came to surface only when a real bodily harm has been done on a child by a stupid family from marroco in köln. The procedure is subject to opinions and it has 2 sides.
while I have not mentioned religion at any point and talked about this procedure and me preferring an opinion over another, you went directly attacking god and blabla! talk to me not him/her/it. I am not talking religion nor liking it actually; "FRANK"!
I have never met a guy who is circumcised and against it. Why only the non-circumcised attacking? it should not be their problem!
No objection to circumcision ,any adult over the age of 16 can do whatever they want to their own body ,just not here and not to children who have no choice in the matter.
Der Grenadier aus Aachen
Correct it is a ritual and many other outdated rituals have been banned for example animal sacrifice ,there are more rituals I would like to see go fox hunting ,bullfighting ,if people want to go on with this ritual please be my guest but not in this country go where it is still a normal part of life and enjoy yourselves as adults who know why and can make up your own minds.
"Schneeepp schnaaapp,Peeemmel ab"
You are mistaken in your belief that this legislation passed by the Bundestag requires the procedure only be performed by a medical doctor. You should read the bill.
So far as I know the second world war was over in 1945,since then Germany was united and is the most powerfull country in Eurpoe,and also the leading one.
What you write down is called in Italian : "insalata mista"=a mixed vegetabale salad. in which you put many different issues which have nothing to do together,
The circumcision law which is an internal German issue and touch Jews and Moslems who live in Germany,your Government voted about it you may act to change it unless you believe your live under dictatorship regime,Battle ships to Israel?Germany sells weapons also to Eygpt and all over the world, like USA ,France ,Italy,Sweden and yes also Israel,if you do not like it you may act politicly to stop it,"OST JUEDEN"well that takes us to old black days of Germany brfore 1945....are you longing to that period and the way it was ended?
Every country makes its own laws considering circumcision.
Britain got its own laws ,I am sure about it, when somebody did a crime or violate the law ,he will be brought to court hall,it is true though that such cases stimulate the law makers to modify the laws