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Finns Say Circumcising Boys Should Be Illegal

The majority of Finns say they're opposed to the circumcision of boys.

According to a survey commissioned by the Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland, 80 percent of respondents said circumcising boys should be illegal. Just eight percent of respondents said they would allow it.

Finns were not opposed to the operation for adults who requested the surgery.

A proposal by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health would allow boys to be circumcised for religious and cultural purposes. Under the proposal, parents would not have to justify the reasons for the operation. Instead parental permission would be enough for the surgery to take place.

The Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland and the Finnish Medical Association say they oppose surgery on children's genitals for religious reasons.

About 1,000 people responded to the poll carried out by pollster Taloustutkimus in September. The margin of error was 2 percent.

YLE