Germany Should Act To Protect Circumcision

Unbelievable that a court of law in germany would hand down such a decision. Makes me wonder if that judge or judges are affiliated with the right wing political group "Pro Köln". They obviously wanted to lash out at the large Turkish/Muslim community and the smaller Jewish community in Cologne. That decision will have consequences for the rest of germany as well. I've worked and lived in Cologne and germany for many years now and have observed bias towards Turks and a disdain for Jews among many middle aged to older germans in Cologne and germany as a whole. So it really doesn't surprise me at all.

Press Release
Subject: Circumcision ban in Germany 05/07/2012
Turkish Professional Circumcisers Association (TPCA); founded in Ankara/Turkey at 2007 and only and first organization focused on male circumcision, in Turkey. We are a non-governmental organization having centers across the most of the cities in Turkey, members who are authorized to perform circumcision according to the Turkish Laws and attending to the periodic hands-on trainings. TPCA undertaking active responsibilities in national and international activities and developing itself by.
As the first and only the organization in Turkey, TPCA; shares with respect the below commends about the circumcision ban in Germany which effects all Turkish and Jewish communities living in Germany.
We consider the decision of Cologne Federal Court which says it is a crime of wounding about the male circumcision, the surgical procedure of foreskin removal and proven benefits to publich health by the scientific studies, as an ignorant decision in terms of human rights and religional freedom and we condemn it.
Today the circumcision; applied by one of three in world since almost 5.000 years ago, old such as humanity, an essential religious duty in the Islam and Judaism, is an indispensable part of the Muslim and Jewish. The 56% of the newborns in USA gets circumcised just after the delivery. The Jews in all world circumcise their sons within 8 days after delivery.
The circumcision recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) at 2007 as an additional measure to the prevention of AIDS/HIV and the international projects continue to be conducted in this field. The reason for the recommendation is the reducing effect of circumcision on the female to male AIDS/HIV acquiring risk. Many international funding organizations such as leading PEPFAR and Bill Melinda Gates Foundation are conducting mass circumcision campaigns in Africa.
However, it is obvious that circumcision which performed in unhealthy settings or by not properly trained people or with improper tools is taking the human life into a great risk.
Our organization has conducted many aid, dissemination and training activities in Turkey and abroad since the day of establishment up to date. Our activities about the promotion of modern circumcision devices and techniques in Africa are continue together with the WHO and Kenya Government Ministry of Health. Kenya Government has appreciated about our activities in Kenya and being asked to continue.
Regarding to circumcision ban in Cologne / Germany caused by court decision on a complicated classic circumcision due to bleeding and infection which are common in this technique, we fully support the effort of our Prime Minister, Minister of European Community, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Directorate of Religious Affairs to prevent victimizations of Muslim and Jewish community effected by this ban.
As an contribution to these efforts; we would like to make it known by world that we will be proud of to do our best to promote and deliver the modern circumcision technique and tools in Germany which is developed by the Turkish doctors and Turkish Medical Device sector and produced by the University - Private Sector and Government Supporting Center for Small and Medium Entrepreneurships.
We also announce that we follow this issue at levels of Germany Courts, Germany Government, International Organizations and NGOs working in Germany to the Turkish and World Public opinions with our respect.
on behalf of;
Turkish Professional Circumcisers Association
President
Op. Dr. Vedat Ali Canoğlu
Urology Specialist

Bnai Brith Intl wrote:

Unbelievable that a court of law in germany would hand down such a decision. Makes me wonder if that judge or judges are affiliated with the right wing political group "Pro Köln". They obviously wanted to lash out at the large Turkish/Muslim community and the smaller Jewish community in Cologne. That decision will have consequences for the rest of germany as well. I've worked and lived in Cologne and germany for many years now and have observed bias towards Turks and a disdain for Jews among many middle aged to older germans in Cologne and germany as a whole. So it really doesn't surprise me at all.

Maybe the judges or some of their relatives live in Ehrenfeld?
They will have a hard time to override the Constitution which guarantees the physical integrity of every human being, babies included, plus the free choice of religion. How dare these parents take that away from the child and when somebody invents a religion tomorrow which requires the amputation of a finger, you tolerate that as well? Ah, religion, everything allowed.
Those who claim the religious life of muslims and jews is impeded must do a lot of pants-down-parties! It is high time that such a court decision came down. Every time people put religion above their own good judgement and common sense, it ends up in a mess. The religions are the biggest enemies of peace.

There's been a similar debate in Norway recently regarding circumcision of children. There's no doubt that the response shows that there's an overwhelming majority in Norway that wants to forbid this sort of unnecessary surgery until children are old enough to choose for themselves. This outdated, barbaric tradition of child circumcision is also in opposition to the human rights of religious freedom, since child circumcision is a religious marker for life that prevents children from choosing between religions. Tolerating male circumcision is an act of tolerating both child abuse and a restriction of freedom to choose religion.

Norway being such a small nation, our politicians haven't got the balls to take the step the Norwegian people are calling for of banning the inhumane tradition of child circumcision out of fear of what might be the reaction of the outside world. Our Minister of Health and Care Services, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, even admitted recently that she didn't have the spine to support a ban on child circumcision. The Norwegian people therefor applauded Germany when a German court showed it had the guts to make the right choice of banning child circumcision. Sadly its bold decision will not last. But sooner or later the barbaric, inhumane act of child circumcision will be banned. It's just a matter of time until someone makes the necessary step of bringing humanity forward from this outdated tradition who has outlived the stone age. That someone will go down in history as a hero.