The EU Executive body responded to a question from the European Jewish Press about the proposed ban of ritual circumcision in Denmark.

‘’The European Commission is committed to defend the freedom of religion or belief both within the European Union and abroad,’’ the EU body said in response to a question from the European Jewish Press about the proposed ban of ritual circumcision that is to be put on a vote in Denmark.

‘’Similarly we are engaged in the fight against all forms of discrimination and in the protection of the rights of the child,’’ EU Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand added.

He first noted that the European Commission usually ‘’cannot comment on draft laws.’’

‘’While religious circumcision has not fallen in the scope of EU law, EU member states must ensure that all fundamental rights at stake, including the right to manifest and practice religion belief are effectively  respected and protected in line with national law and international obligations,’’ the spokesperson said at Thursday’s daily briefing of the European Commission.

Worst threat for Danish Jews since WWII 

The bill was proposed by the leader of a Danish leftist party Simon Emil Ammitzboll-Bille, who is a former Interior Minister.

The Folketing, the Danish parliament,  is set to vote on the bill, proposed by the leader of a Danish leftist party, during its next session.

If approved, the bill would mean a ban on brit milah, the Jewish ritual which sees a baby boy circumcised eight days after his birth. The circumcision is a symbol of the covenant that God made with Abraham.

Henri Goldstein, president of Mosaiske, the representative group of the Jewish community in Denmark, has slammed the bill, calling it “the worst threat since World War II” to the country’s Jews. He said brit milah has been practiced in Denmark without any problems for more than 400 years.

Across Europe, the circumcision  is under attack by liberals who find it a violation of children’s rights and nationalists who argue it is foreign to European culture.

https://europa.eu/!Cp64Vd