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Started by Dr. Pezus, May 16, 2014, 06:00 PM

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Dr. Pezus

Iceland male circumcision ban: 'Growing anger from religious communities' | ResetEra

 
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Religious leaders have reacted with outrage to a bill proposed by MPs in Iceland that would criminalise male circumcision. The bill proposes a six-year prison term for anyone found guilty of "removing sexual organs in whole or in part". Salmann Tamimi, president of the Muslim Association of Iceland, described the proposal as an "attack on religion".Click to expand...
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Circumcising girls has been illegal in Iceland since 2005, but there are currently no laws to regulate the practice against boys. Describing circumcision as a "violation" of young boys' rights, the bill states the only time it should be considered is for "health reasons". Young men would be given the opportunity to decide for themselves once they reached the age of consent.Click to expand...
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Male circumcision is one of the most common surgical procedures in the world, with one recent study estimating that around 38 per cent of men globally have undergone the procedure. According to the same study, around half of circumcisions are carried out for religious or cultural reasons. While the importance of male circumcision in Islam is disputed - some Muslim groups say it is obligatory, others only recommend it - it remains a major and celebrated rite wherever Islam is practised. For Jews, circumcision carries profound religious significance and most baby boys born into Jewish families are circumcised within a week of birth.Click to expand...
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Progressive Party MP Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir is the driving force behind the legislation. "I didn't think it was necessary to consult," she told The Independent. "I don't see it as a religious matter." "Jews are welcome in Iceland. But this is about child protection and children's rights. That comes first, and before the religious rights of the adult. "Every individual, it doesn't matter what naughtiness or how old… should be able to give informed consent for a procedure that is unnecessary, irreversible and can be harmful. His body, his choice."Click to expand...
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She said she was surprised when she learned that male circumcision was still legal, despite the ban on circumcising girls. "The body parts are different, the procedures are different, but in both cases they can be lethal and harmful to the child," she said.Guidance issued in 2013 by the Nordic Ombudsmen for Children and paediatric experts concluded that "there are no health-related grounds to circumcise young boys in the Nordic countries". According to the paper, the procedure "violates fundamental medical-ethical principles, not least because the procedure is irreversible, painful and may cause serious complications".Click to expand...
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The legislation has been debated once in the Icelandic parliament and will go through several stages of discussion and consultation before it could become law. "This is a complicated and difficult matter," said Ms Gunnarsdóttir. "This is a healthy, democratic way to come to a conclusion."Click to expand...
More @ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...eaders-outrage-mp-bill-proposed-a8217696.html Hopefully, Iceland doesn't back down. It may be "religious culture", but I'm sure your God doesn't require you to cut your babies genitals with a knife to get into the afterlife or put a smile on your God's face. One and done with this
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Progressive Party MP Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir is the driving force behind the legislation. "I didn't think it was necessary to consult," she told The Independent. "I don't see it as a religious matter." "Jews are welcome in Iceland. But this is about child protection and children's rights. That comes first, and before the religious rights of the adult. "Every individual, it doesn't matter what naughtiness or how old… should be able to give informed consent for a procedure that is unnecessary, irreversible and can be harmful. His body, his choice."Click to expand...
What have I found here