Excerpt:
If the government has its way, religious circumcision will remain legal in Germany providing it is carried out to medical standards. Angela Merkel's cabinet agreed re-drafted legislation on Wednesday.
Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, who drew up the new bill, said that the decision was "an important signal to clear away any ambiguity" on whether Jews and Muslims could circumcise young boys.
As long as the child's health is not put at risk, and the practitioner carries out the rite in accordance with medical standards, circumcision may be performed. The bill was drawn up in response to a Cologne court decision in June, which said circumcision was tantamount to grievous bodily harm.