Channels

Photo: Zoom 77
Circumcision
Photo: Zoom 77

Child circumcision to be banned in Denmark?

Proposal to raise circumcision age to 15 causes storm among Jewish community. 'If law is passed, Jews will have to leave place they've been living in for hundreds of years,' says Denmark's chief rabbi

COPENHAGEN - At a time where anti-Semitic acts seem to be on the rise in Europe, a bill was proposed in Denmark that will affect mainly Jews – the banning of male child circumcision.

 

Denmark's National Council for Children has recommended the legislation of a law banning circumcision of boys under the age of 15.

 

The passing of this law would make the Jewish mitzvah and tradition of circumcising a child on his eighth day a crime.

 

The country's Ethics Council supported the proposal and now only the parliament's medical committee can intervene and prevent the proposal from being heard.

 

"Circumcision is the irreversible damage to a child's body before he is given the chance to object," the National Council for Children argued.

 

The Council further claimed that the banning of male child circumcision was a matter of equality among the sexes.

 

"Just like female circumcision was banned five years ago, male circumcision should be banned," the Council said.

 

The new proposal caused a storm among the Jewish and Muslim populations in Denmark, with 95% of the 7,000 Jewish population circumcising their sons.

 

Denmark's Chief Rabbi Bent Lexner – who is also a certified circumciser in the community – said he hoped the matter would be left alone.

 

"The comparison between circumcision and the intentional mutilation of the female sex organ in certain societies is simply complete nonsense," Lexner told Yedioth Ahronoth.

 

"If the law forbidding circumcision is ever passed in Denmark, Jews will have to leave the place they have been living in for hundreds of years."

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.20.08, 10:02
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment