This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-40420511
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mum opened nappy to find son had been circumcised | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A mother has described the distress of discovering her baby son had been circumcised without her consent. | A mother has described the distress of discovering her baby son had been circumcised without her consent. |
The woman, from Nottingham, said she opened her son's nappy to find him covered in blood - and was so distraught she had to leave the room. | The woman, from Nottingham, said she opened her son's nappy to find him covered in blood - and was so distraught she had to leave the room. |
She has battled for four years for authorities to take action. | She has battled for four years for authorities to take action. |
Three people have now been arrested, including a 61-year-old man - thought to be a doctor - on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. | Three people have now been arrested, including a 61-year-old man - thought to be a doctor - on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. |
"I opened the nappy and I ended up having to leave the room because I felt hysterical," said the mother, who did not want to be identified. | "I opened the nappy and I ended up having to leave the room because I felt hysterical," said the mother, who did not want to be identified. |
"It was just awful really, it wasn't very nice, there was all blood there and stuff." | "It was just awful really, it wasn't very nice, there was all blood there and stuff." |
'Boys not protected' | 'Boys not protected' |
The boy was circumcised in July 2013 when he was three months old, and apparently staying with his paternal grandparents, who are Muslim. | The boy was circumcised in July 2013 when he was three months old, and apparently staying with his paternal grandparents, who are Muslim. |
His mother originally contacted social services, then contacted Nottinghamshire Police on 24 November 2014. | His mother originally contacted social services, then contacted Nottinghamshire Police on 24 November 2014. |
There was an investigation but the force deemed it not to be a criminal matter, and the case was referred to the General Medical Council. | There was an investigation but the force deemed it not to be a criminal matter, and the case was referred to the General Medical Council. |
The mother later got help from the anti-circumcision group Men Do Complain and leading human rights lawyer Saimo Chahal QC, who wrote to Nottinghamshire Police. | The mother later got help from the anti-circumcision group Men Do Complain and leading human rights lawyer Saimo Chahal QC, who wrote to Nottinghamshire Police. |
Male circumcision is legal in the UK if both parents consent. | Male circumcision is legal in the UK if both parents consent. |
Updates on this story and more from the East Midlands | |
However, the mother believes it amounts to MGM or "male genital mutilation", and should be viewed in the same way as female genital mutilation (FGM). | However, the mother believes it amounts to MGM or "male genital mutilation", and should be viewed in the same way as female genital mutilation (FGM). |
"It's even illegal to dock dogs' tails. I've come home crying my eyes out thinking a dog has got more rights than my child. | "It's even illegal to dock dogs' tails. I've come home crying my eyes out thinking a dog has got more rights than my child. |
"There's something seriously not right with it all. You can protect a dog, you can protect a girl, but not a boy." | "There's something seriously not right with it all. You can protect a dog, you can protect a girl, but not a boy." |
After the letter from Ms Chahal, police reopened the investigation and arrested three suspects, including the 61-year-old man, on 21 June. | After the letter from Ms Chahal, police reopened the investigation and arrested three suspects, including the 61-year-old man, on 21 June. |
The other two suspects are a 44-year-old man and a woman, aged 47, who have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. | The other two suspects are a 44-year-old man and a woman, aged 47, who have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. |
'Half circumcised' | 'Half circumcised' |
Police said all three suspects had been released pending further investigation. | Police said all three suspects had been released pending further investigation. |
In the years since the circumcision, the mother said her son has suffered from recurring infections, and his penis regularly becomes inflamed and sore. | In the years since the circumcision, the mother said her son has suffered from recurring infections, and his penis regularly becomes inflamed and sore. |
"It looks like he's been half circumcised is the only way to describe it. There's half the skin, it's not all the way over. | "It looks like he's been half circumcised is the only way to describe it. There's half the skin, it's not all the way over. |
"It swells up, it gets red and a little bit sore in places." | "It swells up, it gets red and a little bit sore in places." |
The boy's mother said the circumcision has affected her, as well as her son. | The boy's mother said the circumcision has affected her, as well as her son. |
"As a new mum I didn't know what I was doing with a baby anyway, but now I had that added worry on my mind," she said. | "As a new mum I didn't know what I was doing with a baby anyway, but now I had that added worry on my mind," she said. |
"I was really upset about it. It didn't really get much better from there, it's just been ongoing really." | "I was really upset about it. It didn't really get much better from there, it's just been ongoing really." |
She said a lot of people have failed to empathise with her and her son. | She said a lot of people have failed to empathise with her and her son. |
"Even a couple of police officers have made remarks like 'Oh my husband is circumcised, I think it's better'. Or 'Oh they are tougher than they look, it will toughen him up'. It's just silly little comments like that. It's just heartbreaking. | |
"I wrote to MPs and they basically shoved me off. Everybody you speak to it's like speaking to a brick wall." | "I wrote to MPs and they basically shoved me off. Everybody you speak to it's like speaking to a brick wall." |
The mother said she is relieved that action is finally being taken, and hopes the case will raise awareness. | The mother said she is relieved that action is finally being taken, and hopes the case will raise awareness. |
"I just can't believe that we've actually got to this point now and it's taken four years," said the mother. | "I just can't believe that we've actually got to this point now and it's taken four years," said the mother. |
"Nobody was listening when I spoke about it and now it's being acknowledged worldwide. | "Nobody was listening when I spoke about it and now it's being acknowledged worldwide. |
"If anything good can come of what's happened to my son it's raising a little bit more awareness to the suffering that comes, and giving people that are thinking of circumcising their children a bit of understanding about what they are doing." | "If anything good can come of what's happened to my son it's raising a little bit more awareness to the suffering that comes, and giving people that are thinking of circumcising their children a bit of understanding about what they are doing." |