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

But surely we can't just allow anyone to do operations on children at home?

You're not allowed to dock dog's tails or ears but it's legal for any bloke down the pub with a rusty blade to lop off a bit of a baby's genitals 🤔

DS had to have one and he was in so much pain for weeks afterwards. It’s just awful.

Have these parents been charged with an offence? Has the barbarian who did this been charged? i think we know the answers already, but they should be charged in one form or another with causing death/endangering life/child cruelty/negligence/abh. What is stopping prosecutions?

My mum also dealt with this type of
" consultation" in her hospital.
Absolutely no pussyfooting around it in her responses.

There should be ZERO tolerance for medically unnecessary baby mutilation. ZERO.

Bad things are being done in the name of religion and I think we need to push against it.

People need to start questioning why we accept unconsenting non medical circumcision of little boys. Surely this falls under laws on child abuse?

According to the Sentencing guidelines, causing serious physical harm to a child (like chopping off parts unnecessarily) carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. Why is this not being prosecuted? Apparently there is not even a legal requirement for circumcision to be done by people medically trained or with proven expertise. Traditionally, religious leaders or respected elders may conduct this practice.

Causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm
Indictable only
Maximum: 14 years’ custody for offences committed after 28 June 2022; otherwise 10 years’ custody
Offence range: Community order – 12 years’ custody

Non stun animal slaughter is a similar issue, we have laws about animal cruelty - why are they not being enforced for all? The animals don’t understand that they are having their throats slit while conscious for religious reasons.

derbyshirecaya.trixonline.co.uk/chapter/male-circumcision-policy-and-procedure

https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/causing-or-allowing-a-child-to-suffer-serious-physical-harm-causing-or-allowing-a-child-to-die

To be honest I didn’t read the BBC report before posting - I should have done, so apologies.

Male circumcision of children should only be done in my opinion if there is some medical problem, and only in hospitals under strict supervision. Otherwise it should be a choice as an adult (eg too tight foreskin, repeated infections, aesthetic reasons or whatever). Babies can’t consent, I agree

But you explicitly asked why FGM is “illegal and so looked down on” compared to male, and I was arguing that it’s because FGM is infinitely more brutal, more agonising, and results in lifelong trauma and disability for the girl/woman. I really don’t think they can be considered in the same category.

Thankfully circumcision is slowly falling out of favor in the U.S. It is still too popular for a ban to pass, but hopefully someday.

No health issues apart from potential infection and death, as in the OP.

Yes, OP, it should be banned unless medically indicated.

Nothing will happen because everyone is afraid of upsetting Muslims and Jewish people. They would rather let babies suffer than make it illegal.

Absolutely agree. If there is a medical reason for circumcision (recurrent infections resulting from a tight foreskin etc) I can understand a surgical procedure in a medical facility, but I think it is time this was up there along side FGM.

I already apologised to the OP for not reading the BBC report in a previous post.

No, it isn't any different. It's genital mutilation. You do realise there are different degrees of FGM too don't you?

Are "some" of those OK?

It's done for cultural and/or religious reasons. It won't be possible to get it criminalised in the UK, because of the diverse cultures.

This death was obviously very tragic, but baby boys are being circumcised all the time in the UK. It's not just Jewish and the Muslim religions...a lot those of African origin do it here in the UK too.

They are told it will stop penile cancer, stis, vd etc, and its better than doing it later.....like they will have to do it....also a big thing about it looking better and uncircumcised is dirty. Nothing to fo with money the hospital makes of course.

I agree what is stopping prosecutions of FGM which is outlawed? It’s not like there is no evidence. If the parent hasn’t reported the person who mutilated their daughter then it can only be assumed the parent is complicit.

Boys - if it’s legal I guess it’s trickier - maybe there’s a campaign? I’m happy to write a letter if someone has any ideas on how we can protect boys?

Culture isn’t an excuse. It isn’t something done regularly in Britain and it’s unnecessary for most boys. Some cultures have practices that are barbaric - (FGM and stoning women to death spring to mind but I could list many more) - culture doesn’t mean it’s a reason to continue to carry out the practice in Britain. Victorian children were given laudanum, you could buy it - it was given to them by their parents but it was also cruel and eventually outlawed (quite rightly). I’m sure no parent would dream of giving their baby laudeanum nowadays.

Op happy to sign a petition or write a letter if you would like me to.

I already apologised to the OP for not reading the BBC report in a previous post.

Just to be clear, it’s not always done in a hospital. There is no legal requirement for the person doing it to have any medical qualifications which is quite mind blowing.

No but in the US it is pushed by hospitals

What am I Missing? Why would she want it done?

I had a Jewish boyfriend as a teen. He was circumcised by the family rabbi when he was a few days old.. a ceremony called a bris? I remember thinking it was so weird at the time..

I think American women think uncircumcised men are unhygienic?? A couple I know say that anyway!

Not wrong. And everyone else is afraid to agree!

I have never heard that as an excuse. It should be banned.

Of course it should be illegal. Cutting healthy body parts because a man in the sky says so is fucking wrong