German Government Urged to Protect Circumcision

BERLIN (AP) - The Conference of European Rabbis is urging the German government to speed up legislation protecting the practice of ritual circumcision after a doctor filed a complaint with prosecutors accusing a rabbi of causing a child bodily harm.

The organization said Wednesday the complaint "underlines the urgent need for the German government to expedite the process of ensuring that the fundamental rights of minority communities are protected."

The complaint was filed this week with prosecutors in the southern city of Hof. Any German citizen can file a complaint with prosecutors, who then must decide whether charges are warranted.

It comes after a regional court in Cologne ruled in June that the practice constituted causing bodily harm.

The government says new legislation protecting circumcision will be passed "as soon as possible."