A bill that would have banned circumcisions in Iceland and made it a criminal offense for parents and ritual circumcisers (mohels) to permit and perform circumcisions has been tabled by the nation’s parliament.
The bill, which had passed a preliminary vote earlier this year, stipulated a sentence of up to six years in prison for those performing or arranging for the circumcision of a minor.
Rabbi Avi Feldman, director of Chabad of Iceland and the nation’s first full-time rabbi, welcomed the news, and he was appreciative of the members of parliament “who heard our concerns and responded accordingly.”
“Respect for diversity and religious freedom is an important part of Iceland’s identity as a sovereign nation,” Feldman told Chabad.org. “The Icelandic people have had their share of religious persecution and cultural censorship while under foreign rule, and as we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the 1918 Icelandic sovereignty referendum, we are reminded of the ideals that Icelanders fought so hard to protect.
“As the Jewish community in Iceland begins a new era, we are hopeful that this matter will be laid to rest, and look forward to a bright and vibrant future for Judaism in Iceland.”
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