Male Circumcision

In traditional societies, circumcision, or the cutting of a child’s genitals, was performed together with a special ritual to reduce the fear and trauma of the child entering adulthood. However, in contemporary societies, where every person under the age of 18 years is considered a child and any modification to his (or her) body is therefore without consent and a violation of that child’s rights, this practice has received criticism.In addition to Islamic religious beliefs, which are the main reason for the spread of circumcision in Iran, geographical and regional customs and international relationships should not be ignored. ‎Scholars put the origins of circumcision at around two thousand years ago in the area surrounding the Nile in ancient Egypt.‎ Located in the Middle East, Iran has always had profound and extensive relations with Egypt, this source of circumcision. Thus, these three factors – Iran’s geographical region, its relationship with Egypt, and Islam – led to introductions of circumcision in different periods of Iranian history.‎

What is Male Circumcision?

Circumcision is one of the oldest surviving types of surgery in the world today. It involves cutting all or part of the foreskin from the male penis. Circumcision (Arabic: khatan, ختان‎) first became popular among Egyptians and later among Arab Jews and Muslims.The root of the word khatan is khatn, which means to cut off the sheath of the tip of the penis (i.e. the skin covering the tip of the penis).‎An uncircumcised male person is called aghlaf/arghal/aghral, which means ‘clothed’.According to the Dehkhoda Persian dictionary, an uncircumcised person is commonly called namakhtoon.Circumcision is performed in many regions of the world using different methods and instruments, which shows the extent and frequency of this practice.

Types of Male Circumcision

There are four ways to perform circumcision on men.

1. The first consists of cutting part or all of the sheath that covers the male penis cap. This sheath is called the foreskin.
2. In the second way, which is often used by Jews, part of the foreskin is taken with the left hand and pulled up. The practitioners chooses the right amount to cut off and puts a guard in place to protect the cap of the foreskin from injury. Then the knife is taken with the right hand and the foreskin cut with a single stroke along the guard.
3. The third way completely removes the skin from the penis, and sometimes the skin from the testicles and a section of the upper part of the penis.‎
4. The fourth way involves making an open cut along the urethra from the testicles to the glans.

Why Are Men Circumcised?

Historically, male circumcision was associated with religious practices and ethnic identities. In the two religions of Islam and Judaism, circumcision found a religious and mandatory position among adherents.According to analyses of existing Islamic hadiths and narratives and inquiries made of religious authorities, it seems that both Shiite and Sunni Muslims, referring to Verse 123 of Surah Nahl and Verse 161 of Surah An’am, hold that it is obligatory to maintain Abrahamic traditions, including circumcision. However, it appears that the religious tenets of Islam in relation to circumcision developed from hadiths and jurisprudence, which are grounded in the way of life and customs of the Jews of Medina during the time of the Prophet of Islam.Therefore, it can be argued that, while circumcision is a custom that was prevalent in the pre-Islamic era and entered the Islamic era with some restrictions, according to Islamic jurists and scholars, it is one of the requirements of the religion.Although there is broad agreement that circumcision is necessary, there are differences of opinion between the various Islamic schools of thought on the best time for circumcision and the best method of performing it.The Blade of Tradition in the Name of Religion: Research study on male circumcision in Iran is a work of research carried out in Iran by Kameel Ahmady and his team. The team interviewed a large number of people and experts in relation to claims that, in addition to religious pressures to perform circumcision, there are other motivations – health, medical, aesthetic, social and economic – that support its continued practice. The health and medical advantages of circumcision are frequently discussed in terms of its role in preventing diseases like HIV/AIDS, penile cancer and urinary tract infections.In explaining the social functions of circumcision, Ahmady considers how religion and ethnicity are accepted, how the patriarchy gives men a sense of gender identity, and how the interests of men are defended. In terms of circumcision’s economic functions, he discusses the circumcision market, cutters’ business motivations and the ‘medical mafia’ that benefits from circumcision, including cosmetic surgeons.

Male Circumcision Statistics in Iran and the World

• About 60% of people were circumcised at or before the age of five.
• When asked if they intended to circumcise their children, roughly 55% of those surveyed for the research project said yes, while only about 45% said no.

In contemporary times, about a third of circumcised men in the world are circumstanced for religious, traditional, health and beauty reasons. It is interesting to note that circumcision is the most common surgery in the world for male babies.In Iranian society, information published about circumcision must take an approving perspective and emphasise the positive outcomes. There is no free flow of information for the general public to access about unwanted consequences and possible harms of the practice.