Nigerian Cleared Over Circumcision Death

Judaism views circumcision as a religious ceremony, rather than just as surgery. Thus, it is recommended that a Mohel perform the circumcision. A Mohel is a Jew who has been trained in the physical procedures of circumcision and understands the religious significance of the ritual. If a mohel is not available, then a Jewish physician can perform the circumcision. It is customary to invite a rabbi to conduct the service.

80 percent of American circumcisions do not meet ritual standards, because the surgical procedure alone does not fulfil the religious requirement, and since many sons of Jewish parents are circumcised in a hospital by physicians, there is often no religious component to the event, and, some would say, no covenant with God. One could argue that a hospital circumcision no more fulfils the divine requirement than no circumcision. Where ritual is concerned, it is the meaning of the act and not just the act itself that is important.

Some Jews who choose not to circumcise but still want a ritual, change the ritual to omit the circumcision. They may include other ceremonial elements that are sensitive to the infant and the community. For example, something other than the infant’s body can be cut to symbolize the circumcision. An alternative ritual, sometimes referred to as a naming ceremony or “bris shalom,” may or may not be led by a rabbi. It has all the joy of the traditional ritual without the pain of the circumcision.

The use of an alternative ritual has another advantage; it can be used for both male and female infants. The growing interest in an equivalent ceremony for girls illustrates how culturally bound practices must change to be compatible with evolving values. Reformist observant Jews accept that each generation needs to create contemporary forms of expressing its connection to its religious tradition. Judaism, as a patriarchal religion, has been influenced by the women’s movement.

However, circumcision ceremonies are performed on African females as well as males. There are various types of female genital surgery. The procedure analogous to circumcision would be to remove the clitoral hood. Physiology is not an excuse for exclusively male ritual surgery. Rather than perform some kind of genital surgery on females, an idea that is repugnant and rejected by virtually all Jews, a ceremony without surgery for both sexes is the egalitarian solution.

Jewish male circumcision rituals are based on a covenant with God. They are carried out by an experienced Mohel using the Mogen clamp, a tool made for the job. The Mogen clamp is considered by many to be superior to the Gomco device used by doctors i.e. it is quicker and inflicts less pain. They should not be compared to African male circumcision carried out using a razor blade by someone with little experience “he had seen the procedure performed” and without the common sense to recognise when something has gone wrong. This is a crime that should be punished. African female circumcision is based on suppressing female sexual desire. Any culture that considers males to have more rights then females should not be considered civilised. Women in most African societies are considered beneath there husbands.

Ultimately, All Circumcisions performed without recourse to the recipient are barbaric in a modern society regardless of religion or culture.

Does anyone know more details around the case? Did he phone 999 after he saw the child bleeding to death? Can you imagine the pain that child must have been in?

Surely, if you accidentally kill a baby because you messed up snipping baby foreskin it is MANSLAUGHTER?

How did that jury arrive at that crazy conclusion that he is not guilty?

Was he able to just walk free?