The mother, 24, and the person who performed the procedure might be charged with manslaughter, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The 2-month-old boy began bleeding heavily. He was taken to a hospital in Bari, but doctors there were unable to save his life.

Fabio Ferri of Bambin Gesu Hospital in Rome told the news agency even hospital circumcisions can be risky because the penis holds a large amount of blood. He said the procedure should never be done outside a hospital and should only be performed by an experienced surgeon.

Souad Sbai of the Association of Moroccan Women in Italy said all Muslim boys are circumcised and many families still do the procedure at home. Her organization is trying to educate Muslims in the country on the dangers.