Following Norway’s Children Ombudswoman call to ban non-medical circumcision of minors this past November, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, has called upon Norwegian foreign and health ministers, asking them to act decisively in order to ensure the freedom of religion in the country.

In response, the Foreign Minister asked Norway’s Belgian Ambassador, Niels Engelschion, to meet with Rabbi Margolin and EJCC director Avi Tawill and Norway’s government pledge – that it will never consider banning circumcision in the country”. Ambassador Engelschion added that the Norwegian Government respects the Jewish community and will protect its freedom of religion.

Rabbi Margolin thanked Ambassador Engelschion for his Government’s commitment to protecting the freedom of religion of the Jewish community and said: “calls to ban non-medical circumcision of minors in Norway, as it is a violation of human rights, is charlatan and is not supported by any scientific facts. Modern medicine, including none Jewish international health organizations advocate circumcision and its contribution to preventing diesis.

Norway’s Health Minister announced this past November that his Government is perusing legislation banning circumcision in the Scandinavian country and that Parliament is expected to vote on it in April 2014. In response, Rabbi Margolin has called upon Israeli officials to Turn their counterparts in the Norwegian Government, and protest this legislation which is devastating to Jewish communities across the country.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)