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Danish political party wants minimum age for male circumcision

Ritzau/The Local
Ritzau/The Local - [email protected]
Danish political party wants minimum age for male circumcision
A petition could bring the issue of circumcision of boys to Denmark's parliament. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

Opposition party the Socialist People’s Party (SF) says it will vote in favour of any proposal to ban circumcision of boys.

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Denmark’s three largest parties – the Social Democrats, Danish People’s Party and the Liberal party – are yet to take a firm stance over the issue.

But SF, which currently has seven seats in Denmark’s parliament, says it would vote in favour of a minimum age for male circumcision, reports Radio24syv.

“If we are to vote on a minimum age for circumcising boys, and I think that will happen, then SF will vote in favour,” health spokesperson Kirsten Normann Andersen told the radio station.

Around 37,000 people in Denmark have so far signed a petition to parliament asking for a minimum age of 18 to be introduced for male circumcision.

That is a sizeable proportion of the amount required – 50,000 – for the issue to be discussed in parliament, provided the petition is considered to be in keeping with the constitution.

Andersen said that SF’s position would be to support the proposal.

“We think it’s very simple. We had no problems deciding to forbid female circumcision, we had no problem scrapping the right for parents to smack children, and now it’s time to get to grips with this issue,” she said.

The three main parties have so far declined to confirm their stance.

Danish People’s Party spokesperson for health Liselott Blixt said she needed more information on the subject and would delay making a decision until a parliamentary consultation on April 20th.

Several high-profile ministers, including Minister of Justice Søren Pape Poulsen, Defence Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen, Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, Minister for Culture and Church Mette Bock and Minister for Health Ellen Trane Nørby are all expected to attend.

Blixt said that her party would vote as a block on any position it takes up, while the Liberal Alliance, Conservative and Alternative parties have all said their MPs will vote individually.

READ ALSO: Denmark criticised for restricting freedom of religion

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