‘Circumcision isn’t a crime’ – EU Jewish leaders urge Belgium to halt prosecution of mohels

European Jewish leaders accuse Belgian prosecutors of working to establish a stealth ban on circumcision by charging mohels.

By World Israel News Staff

Dozens of Jewish community leaders from across Europe appealed to Belgian and European Union officials on Tuesday to intervene against the planned prosecution of Jewish ritual circumcisers in Antwerp, warning that the case would effectively criminalize a central Jewish religious practice.

The open letter, led by European Jewish Association Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, was signed by Jewish leaders from communities including Paris, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, Porto and Amsterdam.

It came after the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office said it intended to refer two mohels, or Jewish ritual circumcisers, to correctional court over alleged illegal circumcisions.

“We are horrified that the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office intends to refer two Jewish ritual circumcisers, known as mohels, to the correctional court, effectively criminalizing the act of circumcision,” the leaders wrote.

Belgian law does not ban religious circumcision, but authorities say it must be performed with a doctor’s involvement.

The Antwerp case reportedly concerns suspicions that ritual circumcisions were performed by mohels without recognized medical qualifications.

Belgian reports said the alleged offenses could be classified as intentional assault or battery against minors and the unlawful practice of medicine.

Jewish leaders said the prosecution goes beyond a technical dispute over medical regulation and threatens religious life in Belgium.

“We remind Belgium that Freedom of religion is a fundamental right,” they wrote.

“This decision stands in direct contradiction to it. The message being sent here is clear: Jews are no longer welcome in Belgium. And Belgian Jews are now Second-class citizens with limited rights.”

The letter said other European countries had found ways to regulate circumcision without bringing criminal cases against religious circumcisers.

“In many countries a solution has been found that balances freedom of religion. In France, Holland, and Germany for instance,” the leaders wrote.

“We believe therefore, based on the Belgian authorities’ outright refusal to seek an accommodation, that this prosecution is antisemitic in nature, reminiscent of efforts taken in Europe against Jewish practice prior to the Second World War.”

The dispute has been building for months. In February, Belgium summoned US Ambassador Bill White after he accused Belgian authorities of antisemitic harassment over the investigation into Jewish mohels in Antwerp.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot rejected the accusation, saying Belgium permits ritual circumcision when performed by a qualified physician and calling the ambassador’s remarks “dangerous disinformation.”

White called the investigation “unacceptable harassment of the Jewish community here in Antwerp and in Belgium” and urged Belgian officials to create a legal framework allowing mohels to continue their work.

Israel also criticized Belgium after prosecutors moved toward charges. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Belgium was joining “a short and shameful list of countries that use criminal law to prosecute Jews who practice Judaism,” according to Euronews.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Prévot responded that “the judiciary is independent and makes its own decisions.”

The European Jewish Association said earlier this month that police had confiscated circumcision knives during searches and asked for lists of children circumcised over the previous year.

The group described the searches as “yet another crossing of a red line in the intimidation of Jewish religious leaders in Belgium.”

Belgian Jewish organizations have sought a compromise. The Brussels Times reported that the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium and the Central Israeli Consistory proposed creating a supervisory body for ritual circumcisers after news emerged that the Antwerp prosecutor intended to bring the mohels to court.

The European Jewish Association’s new letter said circumcision is not harmful and is widely practiced for both religious and nonreligious reasons.

“Circumcision has been shown throughout decades of medical research to not be harmful to baby boys,” the leaders wrote. “In fact, it has medical benefits — which is why so many people choose to circumcise their children outside of religion. Attacking circumcision in this manner — only when it relates to Jewish babies, is an attack on Jewish life in Europe.”

The case comes amid wider European tensions over religious slaughter, circumcision and other Jewish and Muslim practices that some governments have sought to regulate on animal-welfare, medical or child-rights grounds.

Jewish organizations have long argued that such measures, even when framed neutrally, can make traditional Jewish life impossible in parts of Europe.

The leaders urged Belgian, European Union and European political officials to act before the case advances further.

“All the words of politicians about the importance of Jewish life in Europe mean nothing if they do not act immediately to stop this injustice,” they wrote. “We urge them and the Belgian Government to stop this madness. Circumcision is not a crime.”