To think that this is child abuse and should be illegal?

[FlayOtters]

Poor boy. Why on earth do we allow people to continue to mutilate babies' genitals in the name of religion? It's utterly disgusting.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/02/coroner-calls-circumcision-safety-measures-baby-death-london?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I always thought it was done in the hospital near birth...so you give your little boy to someone who cuts part of his body off who isn't a doctor? I'm not often speechless but...
Yes that's child abuse. Using a properly qualified person no. Using someone else yes

It should be illegal regardless of who does it. Why is it illegal and SO looked down on to mutilate female children genitals (obviously) but not boys??

This should be held in the same category as Female Genital Mutilation and banned unless required for medical reasons. Poor child

Unbelievable that this isn't already illegal!

You can't have random people cutting bits off children, surely?

If it's done for medical reasons (painful tight foreskin, usual when older) then it's fair enough, but doing it for religious reasons is unnecessary and abusive, the child has no say in it and it's cruel to put them through such a needless procedure

Yes it should be banned. Parents should be prosecuted and imprisoned if they mutilate genitals. It’s barbaric. Children cannot consent.

I always thought that in hot climates where the religions who practice this come from, it's a way of preventing infections.

FGM - I was recently told in some cultures over 90% of females are subjected to FGM. There are a few types of FGM. If you aren’t aware of the types it is worth looking it up so you are aware. It’s barbaric. I know people rarely get prosecuted in Britain which is really grim.

FGM research initiative state- The prevalence of FGM among women aged 15–49 in Somalia is 99.2%.
72% of women believe that FGM is a requirement of their religion.

https://www.fgmcri.org/country/somalia/

Do ‘doctors’ in Britain carry out FGM? I’m m guessing some dubious ones must do. It’s awful to think little girls in my child’s class may have had this done to them.

I don’t know how many boys are circumcised globally. Or in the U.K. But would be interested in learning more if anyone is aware as I have never researched it. Thank you for sharing the article op.

In the USA, well over half of baby boys are circumcised- it’s normalised there in a way it just isn’t here.

@cantkeepawayforever is it due to religion or cultural in the USA?

Cultural / medically ‘normalised’ rather than religious iirc - only a few % of US citizens are Jewish or Muslim (two main faiths that practice male circumcision), so it doesn’t account for the high prevalence .

Poor baby. Ds had one last year on the nhs. It was a long and painful recovery.

(We lived there when DS was tiny - the only other parent not to have a circumcised boy was what might now be described as ‘crunchy’ in parenting / life approach)

Wasn’t there an episode of SATC in which one of the main characters slept with a bloke who was not circumcised and they were all surprised?

That suggested to me that the practice is common in the US whereas it is rare in the UK.

Yes, CHARLOTTE. He got circumcised for her then he dumped her to experience his new found “freedom”.

Absolutely and completely different. No comparison at all. Though I'd agree both are pretty ridiculous in the 21st century.

I was coming to say this, there’s no real comparison. FGM (there are various versions) involves removal of the clitoris, destruction of the inner and sometimes outer labia, closure of it all with stitches. It is often done on older girls who have been deceived about the nature of the operation, using knives and scalpels that have not been sterilised, and without anaesthetic.

It has serious long-term effects, including persistent infections, menstruation problems, bladder problems, psychological problems and, obviously, sexual problems. It’s an attempt to obliterate female sexuality.

Male circumcision involves only the removal of the foreskin. I don’t know of any health issues that follow from it, though there’s an argument that it can make the penis less sensitive. Personally I don’t think it should be carried out on babies, who have no choice, but saying it’s equal to FGM is just wrong.

For a proper medical description of FGM, just look it up on google or Wikipedia.

its an evil thing to do to a child, doing it in the name of religion is obscene to me.

That might be deleted, suffice to say the whole practice gives me the terrors.

i know exactly what FGM consists of, I worked for an international humanitarian charity for many years with a special interest in the topic. regardless, both are mutilating children's genitals for no medical reason, it's wild to me that one is still allowed in Britain in 2026!

A lot of people choose this if they are doing it, but it’s not mandatory. It can be done at homes and in religious buildings.

We are from a culture that practises this and both of our families are against it. I used to just think it was a case of different strokes for different folks, but as an adult, I’m against it and will talk openly against it. Those poor bubbas!

I really disagree with non medical infant circumcision and I (gently) advocate this view on the odd occasion when I am asked about it by parents.

But, I'm not sure that criminalising the practice would be the right course of action, because it could be driven further underground and become less safe for baby boys.

It would be better to regulate and educate.

I also do feel empathy for this family. They have done what is "normal" for them, very likely not fully aware of this potential outcome, they have been extremely unlucky and as a result their precious baby has died - they will spend the rest of their lives grieving. I would expect that all involved parties are absolutely devastated and prosecution would be vindictive and not serve any purpose. I hope that the parents and others involved can find it within themselves to use this experience to try to influence others against non medical infant circumcision. But they may not have the strength to do that.

But the PP was pointing out the VAST difference in severity on both procedures surely you can appreciate the relevance of that?

of course, but hitting a child with a ruler and with a baseball bat are vastly different in severity and both still illegal - I think they are still comparable even though one is worse

Agree just ban it unless medically needed . When older any man can weigh up the pros and cons and choose it