The legality of mutilating childrens' genitals has recently become a live issue, first in Germany and now in various other countries. My own view is that to cut the genital organs of a girl or boy is clearly an assault causing grievous bodily harm, as well as being child sex abuse. Children, of course, cannot consent. Some cuts are much more severe in their effects than others, or are often more severe for girls than for boys, but that is not relevant to the principle: all babies are entitled to be protected from assaults by adults, especially sexual assaults. People who have done it should be prosecuted and suitably punished. Authorities have been very lax in dealing with these abuses, but that may be about to change in the same way that sex abuse by priests has only recently come to be dealt with properly. Apparently there are people who hold a different view and believe that mutilating children's genitals should be legal, not an offence. I find this hard to understand, but I would like to see how common a view this is - hence the poll. Such people might like an opportunity to explain their views, if they're prepared to admit to them.
Recently hashed this one out on another forum. I heard the whole spectrum of arguments for and against. It's assault. That is all.
Pete you did not put a poll in but fully support you. I am curious how government will deal with it if they do. Remember that all are justified by religious reasons and in PC friendly UK it means do not touch it with long stick. For me it goes much further then what you said kids should not be forced to do religious stuff parents do, when they are 18 they can choose and then they can be chrissoned, barmitsfad and so on. (probably spelling wrong).
Preventing it could be difficult bearing in mind Racial discrimination, Religious discrimination, or even anti-Semitism....... Hymie Winklestein
It is clearly an assault and should not be made legal, it will still go on behind closed doors though. Female circumcision is particularly abhorrent and should be illegal with harsh penalties. There should be no provision for specific religious exemptions to any law, the State should be blind to religion. It is the norm in certain countries however often resulting in serious health issues.
It's a legitimate off-topic topic though, on a forum for grown-ups who ride bikes. To be honest, I wish the thread title was a little less in-yer-face though. But then I guess folks will complain that that they weren't expecting something quite so unpleasant when they clicked on the thread. What to do?
jewish community in the states has huge political influence, its highly unlikely that anything will change from the status quo
It's fairly standard practise in the Us even if your not Jewish . My ex husband is American . I was horrified to be honest. It should be left to person as a grown up to make a choice. Female version is sick. I would ban ear piercing on children until they can make a choice. One of my pet hates is babies with earrings .
Sorry if anyone does not like to see this topic thread on this forum. By all means ignore it - no obligation to take a view. Once perpetrators start getting sued by victims and prosecuted for assault, the situation gradually changes. If they won't stop doing it, the religious lobby would have to try to get laws passed in each country and each US state declaring it OK to sexually assault & mutilate babies, and forbidding victims from suing for damages. Since such laws would be blatantly contrary to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), those debates would be very interesting to follow. Every European country is a signatory to the ECHR (except the Vatican). As far as I can see the whole issue is rather equivalent to the child sex abuse by Catholic & other priests, which was concealed for years (or centuries) but has now come out into the open in Western countries - except that in their case it was clandestine and did not involve physical mutilation, thus was much more difficult to prove.
arrrgh, clicked wrong button. Should read no, it should not be legal. Its an horrific barbaric practice. Unfortunately in the countries that practice it, I doubt the law would make much difference either way.
