Religious Ban

From the BBC:
"Iceland's mooted circumcision ban sparks religious outrage"

Religious groups have condemned a bill in Iceland's parliament that would ban circumcision for non-medical reasons.  The draft law would impose a six-year prison term on anyone guilty of "removing part or all of the [child's] sexual organs", arguing the practice violates the child's rights. Jewish and Muslim leaders however have called the bill an attack on religious freedom. Iceland would be the first European country to ban the procedure. The country is thought to have roughly 250 Jewish citizens and around 1,500 Muslim citizens.  MP Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir of the Progressive Party, who introduced the bill at the start of the month, said: "We are talking about children's rights, not about freedom of belief. "Everyone has the right to believe in what they want, but the rights of children come above the right to believe." Iceland passed a law in 2005 banning female genital mutilation, and supporters of this move have compared it to that law. The latest bill (in Icelandic) says circumcision "involves permanent interventions in a child's body that can cause severe pain". If it passes its first reading, the draft law will go to a committee stage before it can come into effect. The Nordic Jewish Communities issued a statement condemning the ban on "the most central rite" in their faith.  "You are about to attack Judaism in a way that concerns Jews all over the world," the open letter reads.  Jewish campaign group Milah UK stated that comparisons with female genital mutilation are unwarranted, given that in the case of male circumcision there is "no recognised long-term negative impact on the child". Imam Ahmad Seddeeq at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Iceland also criticised the move.  "It's... part of our faith," he said." It's something that touches our religion and I believe that this is... a contravention [of] religious freedom." The Bishop of Reykjavik, Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, warned Jewish and Muslim people could feel "unwelcome" in Iceland. "The danger that arises, if this bill becomes law, is that Judaism and Islam will become criminalised religions," she said. "We must avoid all such forms of extremism." Circumcision is legal throughout Europe, although the practice is becoming more controversial. A court in Germany passed a local ban in 2012 after the circumcision of a four-year-old Muslim boy led to complications, with the judge saying it "permanently and irreparably changed" the body.  However, the German government later that year clarified the act is legal provided it is performed by trained practitioners. The following year, the Council of Europe recommended countries take steps to ensure good medical and sanitary practices when performing a circumcision.  And in the UK in 2016, a court ruled that a Muslim father could not have his sons circumcised after their mother disagreed.

^ If this passes and becomes law it will show the world that Iceland does not believe in freedom of religion since it will ban a religious practice that has been going on (by different religions) for thousands of years, I think having more safeguards instead of a ban is the better option. Those safeguards should include that both parents agree to having their child circumcised and that any person performing the circumcision (even a religious leader) should receive proper medical training - which they can incorporate with their religious ceremony, These safeguards would allow from religious freedom in Iceland to continue while at the same time protecting the child's health. Hopefully, the Icelandic Parliament will see things that way. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43111800