Twenty United States Congressmen have written to the German ambassador expressing “deep concern” over a recent court ruling banning circumcision of children. The court in Cologne ruled that circumcision violated a child’s right to be protected from bodily harm.
Letter-writers Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) termed the decision “an affront to religious freedom.” They noted that there have been threats to religious freedom elsewhere in Europe as well, in particular in the form of bans on kosher slaughter.
Two Swiss hospitals also banned circumcision following the German court’s ruling.
The congressmen called on the German government to set an example to the region and the world by passing legislation that would guarantee the right to religious freedom.
The letter noted and praised the opposition to the court ruling voiced by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Germany’s lower house of parliament has voiced opposition in its own way, passing a resolution calling for legislation guaranteeing that circumcision of boys will be permitted with medical supervision.