Renowned for being one of the most respectful countries in terms of human rights, Iceland is preparing to pass a new law that goes in this direction: the ban on practicing circumcision among young people boys. Except that the measure does not like of course the Jewish and Muslim communities.

While female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, has been banned by Icelandic law since 2005, male circumcision is still allowed in the country. Just like in the rest of Europe, even if it is a practice more and more decried.

But today, Iceland wants to make circumcision illegal too, which would be a great first on the Old Continent. To this end, a bill has recently been tabled in parliament, but is still under discussion. The text in question describes circumcision as a "violation of the rights of young boys, incompatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child".

Six years in prison

The text argues that circumcisions are usually performed without anesthesia, "in homes that are not sterile, by religious leaders and not by doctors". However, under such conditions, there is a "high risk of infections that can lead to death".

If circumcision is not practiced for "medical reasons", the bill provides for a sentence of up to six years in prison. The concern is that the vast majority of circumcisions are practiced in a religious setting. Jewish communities (which represents some 250 inhabitants out of a total population of 334,250) and Muslims (around 1,500 people) strongly oppose the text. Most fear that the debate will further reinforce latent anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Even Reinhard Marx, German Catholic Cardinal and President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community sees this bill as a "dangerous attack" against religious freedom.

Justifying the religious question, Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir, the member of the Progressive Party (center-right), who is behind the proposal, says that "the rights of the child" must always prevail over the "rights of the child". parents to introduce their children to their religion ". Moreover, boys who wish to be circumcised for religious or cultural reasons will still be able to do so, but only of their own free will, when they are old enough to "understand what is involved in such an act". she in the local press.

It remains to be seen if she will manage to convince all the deputies of the hemicycle to concretize her project.