The German government wants to ensure Jewish and Muslim parents can continue circumcising their sons despite a local court’s ruling that the practice amounts to criminal bodily harm.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the government is committed to protecting religious freedom including the ancient practice of circumcision, provided it is carried out responsibly.

Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin Friday that the government is seeking a quick solution to resolve the issue.

Jewish and Muslim leaders have protested the Cologne court’s ruling in the case of the circumcision of a 4-year-old boy that led to medical complications.

The head of the German Medical Association this week recommended that doctors cease performing circumcisions for religious reasons until the law can be clarified.

(Source: AFP)