Der Standard published an article by Henryk Broder devoted to the infant circumcision ban recently adopted in Germany. A German court last month outlawed male circumcision as being against the best interests of the child. The decision caused vehement criticism from both Jewish and Muslim communities of Germany.
The author of the article does not understand why the issue caused so much attention. "I am surprised that the discussion of this matter is so acute. It seems like it is crucial for German national identity whether Jews circumcise their newborns or not," he says.
The author is very sceptical about the fuss made by human rights activists who struggle against infant circumcision. "Soon someone will say - after what we've done to Jews, we cannot allow them to hurt themselves," he says ironically.
In fact the ethical problem is quite far-fetched, Broder believes. Children's rights are violated constantly and that's natural. Even conception is a violation of the freedom of choice, since no child gives its permission to be born.
World press on German circumcision ban (July 18, 2012)
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