Circumcision debate

The following comments reflect the views of DW.DE readers and come from our Facebook wall. DW.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Support the ruling

"Children are born without religion. I think that this ruling against ritual infant genital mutilation is one of the most sensible things I've heard in a long time. The severe backlash against it has done much to dampen the initial hope I felt upon first reading it." - Skye S., US

"The court is right, religions are wrong. Mutilation and indoctrination of the young is a treacherous act and highlights human ignorance.We need to grow up, Angela too." - Xavier S., Belgium

"I am happy to see that Germany has made good progress in an attempt to end such a cruel and immoral act of mutliating the male body. It is about individual choice, a choice to be made when the male is of legal age. Germany is far from being any kind of a 'laughing stock.' Try progressive world leadership on for size." - Jeff S., US

"Down with religions! Well done to the court!" - Emiliano M., Italy

"Well, one of the main goals of the contemporary world in the area of human rights, especially in health-related rights, concerns the abolition of harmful, invasive traditional practices. Even if one does not see a sufficient degree of harmfulness in circumcision (it is also a medical treatment), the level of invasiveness is overreaching. Also present is the matter of privacy and the best interest of a child. Any argument supporting the alleged 'marginalization of minorities' is just invalid and preposterous." - Milan M.

"Religion should never be a reason for medical procedures." - Ingmar M.

Against the ruling

"I don't agree with this ruling and I think people like to see things in terms of right and wrong. I think there are plenty of health issues here (many of them very positive). Therefore the case should not be seen only in terms of religion. Comparing male circumcision to female circumcision (as I heard yesterday on the radio) is, in my opinion, complete nonsense and out of context." - Elsa G.

"That should not be, because circumcision is biblical. Limitations amount to divine disobedience." - Sunday O.

"The question must be posed about traditional practices that have a medical benefit. Circumcision helps to prevent the transfer of STIs. I can understand the religious position on the matter. I think to try and make it a religious issue is off the mark." - Adrian V.

"Freedom of religion should prevail in Germany. The last time it was interfered with in Germany, they had the Holocaust. I can think of two religious groups that go with circumcision. There probably are others. Courts shouldn't have the right to deal with religious matters, especially if the judge or judges aren't part of the religion that goes along with it." - Walt W., US

"That will be a problem for more than three million Muslims in Germany." - Mohammed E.

"I think this is so simple. This should not involve a court. It all boils done to individual choice." - Hassan S., Ghana

"So, Germany is against freedom of religion. Jews have instructions from God on this, going clear back to Abraham and reiterated by Moses. The German court says, 'No. You may not follow your God's instructions.' Hey, Jews, do what Jewish Peter and his colleagues said: 'We must obey God rather than men' (when men are commanding you to disobey God)." - Jim K., US

Compiled by Shant Shahrigian
Editor: Joanna Impey