De facto ban? UK authorities classify circumcision as child abuse

Jewish and Muslim leaders up in arms after Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service drafts memo to local prosecutors labelling circumcision as potentially constituting a form of child abuse.

By World Israel News Staff

Britain’s national prosecution service has classified circumcision as a potential form of child abuse, instructing local prosecutors to scrutinize instances of circumcision for possible criminality.

Over the weekend, The Guardian reported that the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service, which determines policy for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the country, has drafted a new memo offering guidance regarding the legal status of circumcision.

The draft of the memo obtained by The Guardian said that while male circumcision is not explicitly banned by law in the UK, unlike female circumcision, it should still be considered potentially abusive.

“There is not a specific criminal offense of carrying out male circumcision,” the memo reads.

“However, this can be a painful and harmful practice, if carried out incorrectly or in inappropriate circumstances. It may be a form of child abuse or an offense against the person.”

The document was penned days after a London coroner called for the governmental regulation of circumcision, following several high-profile infant deaths linked to circumcision.

On February 19, 2023, six-month-old Mohamed Abdisamad died, precisely one week after his circumcision.

A jury inquest concluded last October that the cause of death was “invasive streptococcus pyogenes infection following male circumcision.”

West London Assistant Coroner Anton van Dellen penned a report following the inquest, warning that unless the government regulates circumcisions, more infants will die following botched or improperly conducted circumcisions.

Britain’s Office for National Statistics has recorded seven deaths of boys since 2001 where circumcision was believed to be a factor.

Jewish and Muslim groups in the UK objected to the language of the CPS’ draft memo, noting that any procedure could potentially be dangerous if carried out “inappropriately,” with the CPS unfairly singling out circumcision.

“To suggest that circumcision is in itself a harmful practice, is deeply pejorative and misplaced,” said Milah UK co-chair Jonathan Arkush.

“Any procedure that is carried out inappropriately or without proper controls, including piercing a child’s ears, could be a harmful practice and a possible case of child abuse.”

“The incidence of complications in circumcision performed in the Jewish community is vanishingly rare. Circumcision is a core part of our identity. I have never met any Jewish man who thinks they’ve been harmed by circumcision.”

The Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement backing efforts to ensure proper standards for circumcision, while rejecting the characterization of the practice as child abuse.

“Male circumcision is a lawful practice in the UK with recognized medical, religious and cultural foundations, and it should not be characterized in itself as child abuse.”

“However, where procedures are carried out irresponsibly, without proper safeguards, and cause harm, they may rightly fall within the scope of criminal law. The lack of consistent regulation elsewhere creates unacceptable risks, and addressing those risks to protect young boys should be an urgent priority.”