Promoting safer male circumcisions for British Muslims

Male infant circumcision is the most common surgical procedure in the world. Although in some cases performed for clinical reasons, it is today in Britain most commonly performed for religious reasons in Jewish and Muslim infants. This procedure is, however, currently not available on the NHS in most parts of Britain, resulting in difficulties for parents in accessing suitably trained practitioners and consequently increasing the risk of potentially avoidable complications associated with the procedure. This paper considers the faith background to male circumcision in Muslim communities and discusses approaches to reducing the risks associated with it.