UNITED BY CIRCUMCISION

Germany’s Jewish and Muslim communities brought together by judge’s ruling against clipping off foreskin

Because clipping off the foreskin of young boys is an important religious practice for both Jews and Muslims, the banning of circumcision has united two communities that have traditionally hated each other.

MERKEL PROMISES JEWS AND MUSLIMS IN GERMANY THAT CIRCUMCISION WILL BE ALLOWED DESPITE CONTROVERSIAL COURT BAN
Judge in Cologne outlawed the practice on the grounds that it causes ‘illegal bodily harm’

Mail Online
July 13, 2012

Germany's Chancelleor Merkel has promised Jewish and Muslim communities that they will be free to carry out circumcision on young boys despite a court ban.

Last month a judge in Cologne sparked fury among religious groups by outlawing the practice on the grounds that it causes 'illegal bodily harm'.

The ban provoked a rare show of unity between Jews, Muslims and Christians who see it as a threat to religious freedom.

In a country that is especially sensitive to allegations of intolerance because of the Nazis' slaughter of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust, the government said it would find a way around the Cologne court ban in June as a matter of urgency.

European rabbis descended on Berlin this week to lobby against what they see as an affront to religious freedom - with the backing of Muslim and Christian leaders in an unusual show of unity, as well as the support of many German politicians.

A spokesman for the chancellor said: 'For everyone in the government it is absolutely clear that we want to have Jewish and Muslim religious life in Germany.

'Circumcision carried out in a responsible manner must be possible in this country without punishment.'

Ruling in the case of a Muslim boy taken to a doctor with bleeding after circumcision, the Cologne court said the practice inflicts bodily harm and should not be carried out on young boys, but could be practiced on older males who give consent.

This is not acceptable under Jewish religious practice which requires boys to be circumcised from eight days old, nor for many Muslims, for whom the age of circumcision varies according to family, country and branch of Islam.

'It is well know that in the Jewish religion early circumcision carries great meaning, so it is a matter of urgency that this right be restored,' said Seibert, adding that Merkel's own office would be involved in efforts to resolve the problem.

'We know a quick decision is needed and that this cannot be put off. Freedom of religious practice is a very important legal right for us,' he said.

Germany is a close ally of Israel and its ambassador there has promised parliament's Diaspora Affairs Committee to defend the rights of Germany's growing Jewish community.

Germany is home to about 120,000 Jews and 4 million Muslims. Many of the latter originating from Turkey, which has also condemned last month's court ruling.