Germany backs law legalizing circumcision

• Tweet

BERLIN, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The German government says it will support legislation to end the legal uncertainty related to the practice of circumcision.

Questions about the traditional removal of the foreskin from a young boy's penis arose in June when a court in Cologne ruled circumcision of a 4-year-old Muslim boy had caused him bodily harm, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in Europe were angered by the ruling, calling it an "affront" to their religious and human rights. Some rabbis continued to perform circumcisions despite the ruling.

Circumcision is routinely practiced by Muslims and Jews, and widely done in Western nations such as the United States.

The new law would spell out that circumcision was legal as long as it was done by trained experts and the parents were informed of any risks.