Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 24 January 2024
24 Jan 2024 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Child Circumcision (PE2052)
Agenda item 5 is the consideration of new petitions. As I always say, because there could be people joining us, including online, we write to SPICe, which is the Scottish Parliament’s independent research body, and the Scottish Government for their views in advance of our consideration of each new petition. We do that because our experience was that, if we did not do so, we would do that after the first meeting at which we considered the petition. That is a matter of routine practice so that we can have as informed a discussion as possible. Our first new petition is PE2052, on banning child circumcision unless it is medically necessary, with no less invasive solutions available. The petition has been lodged by Taylor Rooney. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to give boys the same level of bodily autonomy and protection that was given to girls in the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005, which banned all forms of female circumcision. In its response to the petition, the Scottish Government states that it recognises non-therapeutic male infant circumcision on religious grounds, and it notes that national health service guidelines are in place for that practice. The Scottish Government states that it does not regard male circumcision as comparable to female genital mutilation. In his written submission, the petitioner argues that children’s bodily autonomy and religious rights should take precedence over the beliefs of parents, as children may not follow the same religion in adulthood. He states that male circumcision shares many of the negative effects of the most common forms of female genital mutilation, including loss of sensitivity, and that, regardless of potential benefits, it is still unethical to cut into healthy children’s genitalia. We have also received submissions from the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society. Both argue that circumcision is important for religious and parental autonomy, with parents acting in the best interests of their children within the established legal and medical frameworks. The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities referenced UK-based research that found that more than 80 per cent of respondents would consider a prohibition of brit milah to be at least “a fairly big problem”. The submission explains that, because of its centrality to Jewish life, denying milah to a Jewish boy undermines his sense of wellbeing and his right to cultural heritage and identity. The Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society notes that Shia Islam categorically condemns mutilations of all humans, especially children, and that there is a “crucial distinction” between its practice and genital mutilation. Coincidentally, I am aware that this practice is quite common in, for example, the United States, where I understand that the overwhelming majority of men are circumcised at birth. Do members have any comments or suggestions for action? 11:45
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Agenda item 5 is the consideration of new petitions. As I always say, because there could be people joining us, including online, we write to SPICe, which is...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I recommend that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, on the basis that the Scottish Government recognises non-therapeutic male infant c...
The Convener
Con
I think that that is a very clear direction from the Scottish Government with regard to the aims of the petition. Given that, are colleagues minded to agree ...
The Convener
Con
We thank the petitioner for raising the issue but, clearly, the committee can keep a petition open only if we think there is an opportunity to advance its ai...