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Showing Original Post only (View all)Circumcision is grievous bodily harm, German judges rule [View all]
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Daily Telegraph as source)
Matthew Day
June 28, 2012 - 10:44AM
(snip)
The court in Cologne declared that the procedure violated a child's "fundamental right to bodily integrity". Religious groups claimed that the ruling trampled on freedom of belief and could lead to "circumcision tourism".
The court said the right of the child outweighed that of parents in what legal experts said could be a landmark case.
The ruling said: "The religious freedom of the parents and their right to educate their child, would not be unacceptably compromised if they were obliged to wait until the child could himself decide to be circumcised."
"The body of the child is irreparably and permanently changed by a circumcision. This change contravenes the interests of the child to decide later on his religious beliefs."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/circumcision-is-grievous-bodily-harm-german-judges-rule-20120628-213u0.html#ixzz1z36qw0ud
Here's some German press coverage:
Nach Kölner Urteil verzichten viele Ärzte auf Eingriff
Nach dem Kölner Urteil über religiöse Beschneidungen bieten viele Arztpraxen und Kliniken die Eingriffe nicht mehr an: Sie wollen sich nicht strafbar machen. Leidtragende sind die betroffenen Kinder, fürchten einige.
http://www.stern.de/panorama/religioese-beschneidung-nach-koelner-urteil-verzichten-viele-aerzte-auf-eingriff-1847388.html
Das Wohl des Kindes
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/urteil-zur-beschneidung-das-wohl-des-kindes-11801160.html
Unfortunately the coverage is mainly influenced by deference to the religious fundamentalists who claim a right from ancient scripture or tradition to permanently mutilate the genitals of infants who have no choice. Most of the articles lead with the reaction of these religious so-called authorities before even reporting on the actual story of the court's ruling.
The body of the child is irreparably and permanently changed by a circumcision. This change contravenes the interests of the child to decide later on his religious beliefs.
Not to mention to have his body whole as nature gave it to him!