RE: German court rules circumcision is 'bodily harm'
June 26, 2012 at 11:09 pm
(This post was last modified: June 26, 2012 at 11:15 pm by Tempus.)
(June 26, 2012 at 10:05 pm)Rayaan Wrote: In some parts in Egypt, however, there are women who cut off their entire clitoris and this has been practiced longer than any existing historical records can show. This is also known as infibulation, or Pharaonic circumcision, but this practice doesn't have any authority in Islam according to my knowledge and it's an example of mutilation and not "circumcision" (and something which is harmful to a women's health).
A while back, maybe a year or so, I heard someone mention female circumcision in relation to Islam, so I looked into it. From memory, my own findings were similar to what you're saying here. I recall thinking that the practice (at least in the form that outraged people) seemed more a cultural thing, rather than a religious rite. It also appeared to be something that happened mostly in Africa rather than in other Muslim denominated countries.
Ah, I remember: I think it was Pat Condell, the youtube atheist, who mentioned it. That, among other things, was why I unsubscribed.
Personally, I think circumcision, like any non health related procedure (which it usually is), should be left until the individual can make an informed decision. I don't think it's good practice to assume little Johnny wants to be religion X, Y or Z and perform irreversible operations, no matter how small, on the assumption that's what he'll want. While I've been circumcised and suffered no inconvenience because of it, I'm not really in any position to choose or know otherwise, which is vaguely frustrating. I wish I'd been asked. To me, it's an issue of consent, and being a family member shouldn't give you special rights over your child's body for aesthetic or religious purposes.
