Merkez voices criticism over Cologne Court's verdict on circumsion

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced criticism against the verdict of a district court in Cologne, Germany that non-therapeutic circumcision of children, even when performed for religious reasons at the request of a boy’s parents, is unlawful, and that those responsible are guilty of inflicting bodily harm. Merkel spoke to the Financial Times Deutschland daily, saying that her administration would work to protect religious circumcision. "We will look like fools in the eyes of the world.  I don’t want Germany to be the only country in the world where Jews may not observe their religious rights," Merkel said. Furthermore, the chancellor's spokesman Steffen Seibert touched upon the issue last week, saying, "For everyone in the government, it is absolutely clear that we want to have Jewish and Muslim religious life in Germany." Seibert added that the circumcision carried out in a responsible manner must be possible in this country without punishment.