Iceland Considers Banning the Mutilation of Babies Genitals.

by veya_victaous Tue Feb 27, 2018 2:57 am

IT’S the Nordic island known for it’s stunning scenery and Game of Thrones strongmen. But Iceland is making headlines over controversial medical guidelines that have sparked fears among religious groups and advocates.

The country’s leaders are considering a law that would ban the circumcision of boys for non-medical reasons, making it the first country in Europe to do so.

The proposed change would see male circumcision viewed as equal to female circumcision — more commonly known as female genital mutilation (FGM) punishable by up to six years in prison — as young boys are unable to consent.

Despite being uncommon in Iceland, where just 21 boys under age 18 are thought to have been circumcised since 2006, it has drawn support from a number of doctors who issued a joint statement in support of the bill.

It’s also led to criticism from Jewish and Muslim religious leaders who say it undermines their rights to carry out a 4000-year-old practice.

One in three men are circumcised around the world, with “almost universal” rates in parts of the Middle East, North and West Africa and Central Asia. It’s also common in Australia, Canada, the US, Indonesia, Korea and a number of other countries, according to the World Health Organisation. Results vary according to practitioners but studies show complication rates around 1 per cent, rising slightly as a child increases in age.

Icelandic Imam Salmann Tamimi told AP circumcision was important to Muslims but even more so to Jews. “This is an attack on all religion and especially Judaism,” he said.

Rabbi Avi Feldman of the Chabad Jewish Centre, who is set to move to Reykjavik later this year to become Iceland’s only resident rabbi, said it’s a core Jewish belief and he is hopeful the “rights for people of all faiths will be preserved and respected”.

More at source
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/iceland-considers-banning-circumcisions-amid-debate-about-medical-ethics/news-story/e59dc7f9e1452bbf02aa15bbada2a671