British authorities may classify male circumcision as a “potential form of child abuse,” according to draft guidance shared with prosecutors, underlining “concerns” from judges and death investigators about deaths and serious harm caused by the procedure, the Guardian reported on Saturday.
The draft document by the Crown Prosecution Service on “honour-based abuse, forced marriages and harmful practices” reportedly lists male circumcision as a potential offense alongside practices such as virginity testing, hymen reconstruction surgery and exorcism rituals.
The wording of the draft, obtained by the newspaper, has alarmed some religious groups, with Jewish and Muslim leaders defending the importance of circumcision.
The CPS guidance says that unlike female genital mutilation, “there is not a specific criminal offense of carrying out male circumcision.” But the draft adds that “this can be a painful and harmful practice, if carried out incorrectly or in inappropriate circumstances. It may be a form of child abuse or an offense against the person.”
The publication of the draft has drawn outrage from Jewish and Muslim communities.
Jonathan Arkush, former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and chair of Milah UK, which promotes and protects the right of the Jewish community to carry out religious circumcision, said the draft guidance was misleading.
“To suggest that circumcision is in itself a harmful practice, is deeply pejorative and misplaced,” Arkush told the Guardian. “Any procedure that is carried out inappropriately or without proper controls, including piercing a child’s ears, could be a harmful practice and a possible case of child abuse.”
Arkush, who is also a lawyer, acknowledged that incorrectly performed circumcision could constitute abuse but said the “stringent standards” applied by the Jewish community ensure it does not occur.
The Muslim Council of Britain said it supports calls for stronger protections and a system to accredit practitioners.
“Male circumcision is a lawful practice in the UK with recognized medical, religious and cultural foundations, and it should not be characterized in itself as child abuse,” the council said in a statement.