Letter: Circumcision rights
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: M Riaz Hasan invokes a parent's guarantee of religious freedom in justification of child circumcision (letters, 26 September). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not however provide the comfort that he claims.
Article 2 provides that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 30 states that "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect ... the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."
Thus a child's right to physical integrity must be applied without prejudice to race, religion or gender. Religious freedom is no defence to the forced circumcision of infants.
JOHN D DALTON
Frizington, Cumbria
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments