Laws restricting, regulating, or banning circumcision, some dating back to ancient times, have. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, as a sign of the covenant between me and you. The court decision to make child circumcision a crime, made in the city of cologne, has incurred the. German jews, muslims unite to protest against circumcision ban. German court rules against circumcising boys the new york times. Mar 31, 2020 the american academy of pediatrics aap says the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. German circumcision ruling raises outcry a controversial court ruling in cologne that effectively prohibits most circumcisions in that city has touched a nerve worldwide, and sparked an outcry in. Adult circumcision stories men circumcised as adults tell it as it is. German circumcision ruling raises outcry the forward. Jun 27, 2012 the decision by a district court in cologne, germany, to deem nonmedical circumcision a crime places an intolerable burden on the free exercise of religion by jews and also by muslims who practice male circumcision as part of their religious faith, abraham foxman, the adls national director, said in a statement. Jun 26, 2012 muslim and jewish organizations surely see the decision as interference with the right to freedom of religion. Jun 27, 2012 jewish and muslim groups condemn german circumcision ruling jewish and muslim groups in germany on wednesday condemned a court ruling that deemed circumcision equivalent to grievous bodily harm.
Jun 27, 2012 religious groups outraged after german court rules circumcision amounts to bodily harm. The decision involved the circumcision of a muslim boy in cologne. On june 26, a court ruling in cologne germany made ritual circumcision illegal, declaring that it is an assault on the rights of the child since it is performed without its consent. A ban on circumcision in germany has shocked the nations jews and muslims. Jewish and muslim groups in germany on wednesday condemned a court ruling that deemed circumcision equivalent to grievous bodily harm, claiming the ruling trampled on religious freedom and could. If you decide to leave your son intact, it gives you valuable information for taking care of your sons foreskin.
To defend the german courts decision in the face of jews, muslims, and others objections is at least in part to argue that the practice of circumcision represents a qualitative departure from what parents are ordinarily allowed to do to their children. The circumcision decision is the only unbiased exploration of the important question of whether to circumcise your son or leave his foreskin intact. Mar 12, 2007 i just recently found the relation of german cut to circumcision. No religious discrimination in germanys circumcision ban in point of fact, the jews and muslims who object to the german ban on circumcision actually desire that the law treat them. Circumcision remains legal in germany germany news and in. These problems help explain the different reactions to the decision among german and foreign observers.
I am currently writing a book on cybercrime for reaktion books, due for publication in late 2019. A loose circumcision style will remove less foreskin, leaving more of it room to move on the penis. No religious discrimination in germanys circumcision ban. The command for circumcision appears in bereisheet the hebrew name for the book of genesis which roughly translates to in the beginning. The decision prompted many jews and muslims to question their. Less commonly, circumcision is sometimes done for healthrelated reasons. An early british opponent of circumcision was herbert snow, who wrote a short book called the barbarity of circumcision as a remedy for congenital abnormality in 1890. Is the german circumcision ban casting shadows of the third. But even as the german government moved to neutralize the cologne courts decision, similar deliberations unfolded in other parts of europe. No religious discrimination in germanys circumcision ban in point of fact, the jews and muslims who object to the german ban on circumcision actually. The circumcision decision is an unbiased and thoughtful exploration of the important question of whether to have a son circumcised or left intact. Male circumcision is defined as the partial or total surgical removal of the foreskin also called prepuce, which is specialized tissue that covers the head or glans of the penis. Landmark decision from german high court outlaws male.
To defend the german courts decision in the face of jews, muslims, and. Family practice obstetrics pediatrics see also anatomy circumcision and informed consent. Dieter graumann, the president of the central council of jews in germany, which. In the most common procedure, the foreskin is opened, adhesions are removed, and the foreskin is separated from the glans. Both religions are integrated into german culture and have considerable influence. Regardless, at least in germany, the question of criminalization of religiously motivated circumcision will be regulated by the federal constitutional. It immediately affects the future of the children of four million muslims and about 120,000 jews. German court ruling on circumcision riles jewish community. Jul 19, 2012 german circumcision ruling now in english theres been much talk about a recent ruling in which a german court outlawed the circumcision of a male child. The right of parents to make decisions for their children is now under the spotlight.
Sep 09, 2012 hundreds of german jews and muslims held a joint rally in berlin on sunday demanding that their freedom of religion be respected, in a rare show of unity to protest against a court order that. But some jewish germans are less sure of the underpinnings. Actually, the matter is to make women believe that the noncircumcised are profligate, without hygiene, awkward customers, and, in african ethnic groups a noncircumcised is not a man. Germans are not snipped for any other cultural reason. Indeed, word is that germany legislators already are moving to pass a law that would nullify the ruling. Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin from the human penis. With a highly readable approach and reliable information, it guides parents through the full range of issues to help them make a decision that is best for their newborn son. German circumcision ban incites new religious controversy.
But, if you are almost about to deliver, get our book, spend a few hours reading it, perhaps some time discussing it, perhaps talking to your physician or birth attendant. Why the circumcision judgment looks so weird to american eyes. If you decide to circumcise, it helps you understand what you need to know about circumcisers, pain relief, protective shields, and more. A month later, in a decision that shocked germanys jews and muslims. The practice of circumcision has ancient origins, and continues today around the world for various religious and cultural reasons. Total nonsense, says the german circumcision expert wolfgang buhmann, to help people in areas with high hiv rates, you have to make it clear to them that sex without a condom is life threatening. Jews, muslims slam german circumcision ruling as assault on. Racism and circumcision circumcision is intended to make supermen, assumed to me morally superior. Jewish and muslim groups condemn german circumcision. The right of parents to make decisions for their children is now. Some have questioned if religious intolerance is on the rise.
An unbiased guide for parents terkel, susan, greenberg, lorna on. Jan 01, 1990 the premise and setting of dalos gyorgys the circumcision had me expecting a wholly different book. Topical or locally injected anesthesia is used to reduce pain and physiologic stress. Adult circumcision stories what men circumcised at birth think. The demonization of the foreskin and the rise of circumcision in britain university of chicago press, 2005. Germanys parliament approved a bill to keep male circumcision legal, after. German circumcision ban incites new religious controversy in. German court rules circumcision goes against fundamental.
Take a look at the circumcision procedure and circumcision devices. The parents took their 4yearold to a hospital several days after his ritual circumcision in 2010 after they became concerned. The decision is contrary to human rights charter of the european union. Jewish and muslim groups condemn german circumcision ruling. It is however coined from the practice in nazi germany to find out who is jew and who is not. Set in budapest in early1956 that is, just before the red army crushed the nascent hungarian revolution, one imagines that events will be woven into the novel. So of course the people affected by outlawing circumcision outside medical reasons affects only muslims and jews and any other religious groups that im not aware of. Experts said that the decision would not be enforceable. The frenulum may also be cut away at the same time, in a procedure called a frenectomy.
Jul 17, 2012 german circumcision ban incites new religious controversy in europe the ruling of a court in cologne in june to ban circumcision of young boys for religious reasons has riled muslims and jews. German courts circumcision ban does not affect us military clinics. Adult circumcision stories uncircumcised men have their say. Learning english words in the news german circumcision. The circumcision by gyorgy dalos goodreads share book. Since judaism practice male circumcision, any boyman who is circumcised is immediately believed to be a jew. The german society of pediatrics and adolescent medicine condemned circumcision, and some say political movements simply reflect a culture traditionally inclined to tell people how to behave. I am currently writing a book on cybercrime for reaktion books. Adult circumcision stories men circumcised as adults tell. The aap leaves the circumcision decision up to parents and supports use of anesthetics for infants who have the procedure. Jun 28, 2012 circumcision however, is directly commanded in the torah, the five books of moses. Antisemitism and germanys movement against circumcision.
In the present study, at least, the judgment biases were not meaningfully important because factors unrelated to the physicians judgment i. However, the aap doesnt recommend routine circumcision for all male newborns. German circumcision ban incites new religious controversy in europe the ruling of a court in cologne in june to ban circumcision of young boys for religious reasons has riled muslims and jews. A court in cologne, germany has ruled that removing the foreskin of young boys for religious reasons amounts to bodily harm. A german debate over the legality of ritual circumcision has many in the countrys tiny jewish community reexamining a more existential question.
Berlin a german court in cologne ruled on tuesday that circumcising young boys represents grievous bodily harm, a decision that could have significant repercussions for. Sex with a condom however is safe, regardless of whether the foreskin is still there or not. Germany has no law against male circumcision, as there is against female genital cutting. Because german law deems 14yearolds mature enough to make an informed choice over personal religious affiliation, this would then be the age when muslim and jewish boys could make their own decision about undergoing a circumcision. The german association of pediatricians bvkj finds no medical reason for. As has been pointed out above, the issue of circumcision in germany is a religious one. The central council of muslims in germany saw the decision as a blatant and improper intrusion on the selfdetermination of religious. Religious groups outraged after german court rules. A regional court in cologne, germany, has determined that religious circumcision of young boys constitutes illegal bodily harm, even when performed with the consent of the parents, and that. She has originated and directed a wide range of projects, including books on brain damage, a teen health dictionary. German lawmakers have approved a bill to keep male infant circumcision legal. Circumcision stories experiences of parents with sons. Circumcision is the procedure that cuts some or all of the foreskin prepuce from the penis.
Jewish couples in crisis by rebecca wald back in the days when i was dating, before i met my wonderful husband, i would mention my views about circumcision early in a relationship, namely that i was against it and had no plans to circumcise any future sons. This german circumcision ban is an affront to jewish and. Jul, 2012 german court rules circumcision goes against fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity by michelle castillo july, 2012 4. Earp is associate director of the yalehastings program in ethics and health policy at yale university and the hastings center. Religious traditions remain a controversial subject in europe today, from germanys circumcision court decision to frances burqa ban. Mar 11, 2020 infant circumcision is an entirely personal decision. Clearly, it is better to make the circumcision decision before the delivery. University of new south wales is an independent scholar and author of a surgical temptation. Holistic parenting magazine the circumcision decision see more. Circumcision procedure the circumcision procedure is done differently for infants than it is for adults. She also compares and contrasts religious circumcision with. This german circumcision ban is an affront to jewish and muslim identity giles fraser a german court has rejected identity and history in favour of a. German court rules against circumcising boys the new.