Replace circumcision with symbolic ritual, Norwegian ombudsman says

ISTANBUL

Boys dressed up to attend ceremonies following circumcision. Hürriyet photo

Norway's ombudsman for children's rights has suggested that circumcision should be replaced with a symbolic ritual instead, the Jerusalem Post has reported.
 

Dr. Anne Lindboe said Muslim and Jewish children should be protected "as all other children" and thus should not be forced to undergo a physical intervention on their bodies without their consent. Muslims and Jews should instead perform a bloodless, non-surgical ritual, she said.
 
The ombudsman before Lindboe had also suggested that an age of 15 should be set for children to undergo circumcision.
 
While the Muslim faith puts no age limitation on the ritual, the Jewish faith calls for the circumcision to take place when children are 8 days old.