Botched Circumcision Campaign in Morocco Leaves Five Children Hospitalized, Two Critical

Following this collective circumcision campaign, "five children suffered from serious infections and complications requiring their hospitalization in the regional hospital services of Tangier," reports Al Akhbar, adding that "the situation of two of the five children is extremely serious and could even lead to permanent disability that is difficult to treat." The two children are still admitted to the intensive care unit, it is specified.

Human rights associations have launched an appeal to the authorities, particularly the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the competent public prosecutor’s office in Tetouan, as well as all the institutions concerned, so that an investigation is quickly opened to shed light on this case and determine the responsibilities.

This investigation "will be based on the medical reports established by the specialists of the regional hospital of Tangier, after examination of the infections that have affected children at the level of their genital apparatus, and will determine the responsibilities in this framework, either those of the doctors who performed the circumcisions, or those of the parents with regard to the follow-up, hygiene and recommended treatments in this regard," the newspaper points out.

According to the same source, it is a local association in Chefchaouen that initiated this collective circumcision campaign on September 20, on the occasion of the Mawlid Annabaoui celebration, for the benefit of 40 children from underprivileged families. A medical staff then took charge "of performing the circumcisions in the facilities of the provincial hospital Mohammed V of the city."