A motion to ban the circumcision of males younger than 18, unless for medical purposes, has been presented to the Swedish parliament.
Two members of the right-wing, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party brought the motion forward on Tuesday. Their party, which holds only 20 of the 349 seats in parliament, argues it is the next step after Sweden’s ban on female genital mutilation.
Bjorn Soder and Per Ramhorn’s proposal involves overturning legislation passed in 2001 that allowed the circumcision of newborn babies if carried out by a “licensed professional”.
Currently ritual circumcision can be carried out with practitioners licensed by the Swedish health board . A nurse or doctor must be present at any circumcision.
