We were disappointed to hear that Jewish and Muslim groups have claimed victory after the Council of Europe ‘retreated’ over a proposed ban on male circumcision and instead recommended only that it be performed by trained individuals.
The council had itself previously described circumcision as a “violation of children’s physical integrity”.
Should adult Muslim or Jewish religious believers choose circumcision then they must be free to have it at their own expense but religious freedom cannot extend to surgery on nonconsenting children.
Neil Barber
Edinburgh Secular Society
Published Scotsman Newspaper 12th October 2015
