20-day-old boy bleeds to death after two women perform home circumcision in Italy
- Two women of Nigerian descent were arrested in connection with his death
- Both are suspected of manslaughter with aggravating circumstances and unlawful exercise of a profession
A 20-day-old boy has died in Rome after a botched ritual circumcision attempt at home, police have revealed.
Two Nigerian women have been arrested in connection with the child’s death after his parents rushed him to hospital on Friday.
Both women were charged with aggravated manslaughter and illegal practice.
The child’s mother is also being investigated on suspicion of conspiracy to commit manslaughter.
It follows numerous similar cases in Italy, such as that of a two-year-old child in Rome in December 2018.
Many Muslim immigrants in Italy practice circumcision for cultural and religious regions — but it’s not a popular practice among Italy’s Roman Catholic majority
The surgeries are usually performed in back street surgeries and private clinics as most hospital doctors refuse to perform the surgery until the boys are at least four years old
The boy – who underwent circumcision surgery performed by a US citizen of Libyan descent – also had a twin brother who narrowly survived his operation in intensive care.
The deceased child’s doctor had called for help after he started bleeding profusely, Italian media reported at the time.
His mother is said to be of Nigerian descent and is said to have sought asylum in Italy and has five other children in Nigeria.
She reportedly asked for the surgery to be performed in accordance with Islamic traditions, despite being a Catholic.
Many Muslim immigrants in Italy practice circumcision for cultural and religious regions – but it is not a popular practice among Italy’s Roman Catholic majority.
The surgeries are usually performed in back street surgeries and private clinics, as most hospital doctors refuse to perform the surgery until the boys are at least four years old.
According to the health organization Amsi, more than 5,000 such operations are performed annually in Italy, 35% of which are clandestine.
Surgeries in private clinics can cost up to 4,000 euros, but can be offered for between 50 and 200 euros in back street surgeries.