German Parliament approves Ritual Circumcision

Berlin: After controversial debates about religious motivated circumcision, the German Federal Parliament approved circumcision in the second week of January. The enabling legislation said, the circumcision must be executed by trained persons and must fulfill health and medical regulations. A prior draft attempted to legalize the circumcision of boys with the minimum age of 14. However, the majority of the parliament did not approve it.
Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (FDP) welcomed the decision of the Federal Parliament: “For decades, parents have not been penalized when accessing professional means to circumcise their sons.” Circumcision would remain legal.