Male infant circumcision is declared illegal in Germany.

Angela Merkel has now made it clear that a way round this court's decision will be found in order to allow circumcision of male infants and the free practice of Judaism and Islam.

And by so doing, Angela Merkel has made it clear that the babies on whom those religious practices are imposed have no choice. So much for freedom and human rights

and where does that leave victims of female genital mutilation

One step forward and another one back - such a tragedy. I wonder whether the powers that be would be prepared to stand in front of those children who have been harmed by this practice, and explain why they didn't protect them?

Sadly that is harder to prevent. It is not a 'law' of any religion but seems to be older than that as a patriachal cultural practice. When it is so deeply ingrained in a society's psyche it is hard to break. The issue needs to be kept public and the increase in those who have been mutilated in the campaign also helps to give it greater credence with those who argue that because it is cultural it is not an issue for 'outsiders' to comment upon.

Perfectly said Bags, my own sentiments entirely.

The only argument against imho, is that in some, mostly religious circles, eg Jews and Muslims, it is so ingrained that a ban may push such 'operations' underground, with 'butchery' being carried out by unqualified staff and less than safe circumstances.

granjura I think sometimes "butchery" is already being carried out by unqualified staff and less than safe circumstances.

And now Angela Merkel is reported in the German press as saying that the decision will make the Germans a laughing stock. They are said to be trying to find a way of undoing the decision. I don't think 'laughing stock' fully describes the international reaction which tends towards 'anti-Semitic and anti-Islam'.

If that really is the international reaction, then "international" has completely missed the point! The "this is anti-whateverreligionithappenstobe card" is always played. I wonder when supposedly intelligent people like Merkel will catch on?