The European Jewish Association (EJA) has requested the European Commission to halt the criminalisation of Jewish circumcisions in Belgium, as stated in a letter sent to Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Wednesday.
The EJA’s appeal follows police raids in Antwerp on 14 May involving three mohels, individuals who perform circumcisions, conducted because of concerns over procedures carried out by those without medical training.
The EJA specifically urges Von der Leyen to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to protecting religious freedom publicly. They also call for the EU to condemn the actions in Belgium and engage in dialogue with Belgian authorities to prevent future prosecution of Jewish religious practices.
In its letter, the EJA warns that such actions are a direct violation of religious freedom and could reignite some of the darkest chapters in European history.
Rabbi Menachem Margolin, chairman of the EJA, stated, “It is a sacred commandment performed safely for thousands of years. Attempts to criminalise it threaten not only Jewish life but also the core European values of religious freedom and human dignity.”
Following the raids, Antwerp’s public prosecutor clarified that the investigation focuses on medical procedures and circumcisions conducted by non-medical professionals, which arose from a complaint within the Jewish community itself.
The Jewish community responded by underscoring that a mohel is trained in both the ritual and medical aspects of circumcision. The EJA also attached an open letter from over 20 Jewish doctors to the European Commission, defending the medical benefits of circumcision and urging against stigmatising the practice.
