Muslim father loses court battle to circumcise sons

London: A British Muslim father of Algerian descent has lost a court battle with his England-born wife on whether to circumcise their sons according to Islamic principles.

The boys, aged six and four, had been the subject UK high court dispute after their parents disagreed over whether to have them circumcised.

Their father, who has lived in England for 15 years, argued that it would be in the children's best interests to circumcise them in accordance with his "Muslim practice and religious beliefs".

Their mother, however, wanted to wait until the boys were "competent to give consent". "First and foremost, this is a once and for all, irreversible procedure. There is no guarantee that these boys will wish to continue to observe the Muslim faith with the devotion demonstrated by their father," Justice Roberts said in her ruling.

The details of the case emerged yesterday after a ruling by Roberts.

The judge said no one involved could be identified, but she said the man and woman were both in their mid-30s and now separated.

The couple met in 2006 and lived together in London. They went through an Islamic ceremony for marriage in 2009 before the boys were born.

But then in July 2012 the mother fled the flat with the boys following violent attacks on her by the father, according to reports.

"Just as the father is passionate in his cause and the reasons for circumcision, the mother is resolutely opposed to it at this point," the judge said, adding that she was simply "deferring" the decision until the boys can make their own choice.