News Dutch doctors say no to circumcision Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By J. Correspondent | September 30, 2011 The Royal Dutch Medical Association last week called on politicians and human rights groups to discourage male circumcision. The association, which represents surgeons, pediatricians, general practitioners and urologists, appealed to politicians to speak out about the procedure, called a brit milah in Hebrew, in an attempt to encourage religious groups to find an alternative rite of passage, Reuters reported. Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, president of the Dutch Association of Rabbis, told Reuters that about 50 male Jewish babies are circumcised in the Netherlands each year. Muslims boys are also circumcised, at some time during boyhood. There are about 40,000 Jews and 1 million Muslims living in the Netherlands. One year ago, the association released a report opposing male circumcision for non-medical reasons. Female circumcision, or female genital mutation, has been banned in the Netherlands since 1993. — jta J. Correspondent Also On J. Our Crowd Honors, happenings, opportunities, comings & goings — March 2023 Torah In Moses’ self-doubt, a great lesson in humility Politics With retirement on the horizon, a look at Dianne Feinstein’s Jewish legacy Obituaries Death announcements for the week of March 31, 2023 Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up