Turkish Deputy PM slams Council of Europe’s circumcision decision

ANKARA

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has criticized a report of Council of Europe against circumcision of young boys without consent before the age of 14. AA photo

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ slammed a recent resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), adopting a report against circumcision of young boys without consent before the age of 14.

“It is an exceptionally wrong decision,” Bozdağ said. “Because parliaments, politicians, governments, unions, international organizations cannot decide on issues regarding people’s beliefs, what they should believe or not. This is a decision that is in conflict with the EU’s own acquis, European values, freedom of religion and conscience,” he said on Oct. 3.

Recalling that some courts in Germany had attempted to pass such judgments in the past, Bozdağ said, “Unfortunately it is obvious that this crippled mentality can be accepted by Europe’s most important institutions. This is a clear intervention against the freedom of religion and conscience. This is not lawful, this is an unacceptable approach.”

PACE’s resolution focused on “violations of the physical integrity of the children,” including the circumcision of young boys for religious causes, a controversial issue across Europe.