A British mother has told of the shocking moment she discovered her baby son had been circumcised without her consent four years ago.
UK media outlets are reporting the woman, from Nottingham, opened her son’s nappy to find him covered in blood.
“I ended up having to leave the room because I felt hysterical,” the mother said, according to the BBC.
“It was just awful … there was all blood there and stuff.”
The young boy, who is now three-years-old, was circumcised in July 2013 when he was reportedly staying with his paternal grandparents, who are Muslim.
After contacting social services and raising the matter with Nottinghamshire Police in November 2014, the case was deemed to not be a criminal matter and was referred to the General Medical Council.
Last week, Nottinghamshire Police arrested three people after the case was reportedly reviewed by human rights lawywer Saimo Chahal and subsequently re-opened.
A 61-year-old man, believed to be a doctor, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, with a 44-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, believed to be the boy’s grandparents, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
The three people have been released, pending further investigation by police.
According to the British Medical Association, male circumcision in the UK is generally assumed to be lawful provided there is valid consent.
But the mother believes the incident amounts to male genital mutilation, and should be treated accordingly, the BBC reports.
“It’s even illegal to dock dogs’ tails. I’ve come home crying my eyes out thinking a dog has more rights than a child,” the mother said.
“There’s something seriously not right with it all. You can protect a dog, you can protect a girl but not a boy.”
9News Australia
