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Mass circumcision festival held in Malaysia

Young boys take part in the festivities which some consider a celebration of reaching manhood

Web Desk December 05, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

Every year, young boys aged between seven and 11 undergo a mass circumcision in Malaysia. About 200 boys took part in a mass circumcision at a mosque in Ampang, in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur on December 5.

Young boys take part in the festivities which some consider a celebration of reaching manhood. Manhood is welcomed in their community with surgery using local anesthetic and laser technology.

We look at some of the images as the boys enter 'manhood'.

Medical personnel tend to the young boys as they undergo a mass circumcision at a mosque

Parents watch over their sons ahead of the mass circumcision ceremony.

A boy waits his turn to take part in the ceremony in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.

A grandmother comforts her grandson as he undergoes circumcision.

Rohingya boys from Myanmar living in Malaysia take part in the ceremony.

Parents tend to their sons before the mass circumcision ceremony at a mosque in Ampang.

Parents tend to their sons before the ceremony, outside the mosque.

A father comforts his son as he undergoes circumcision during a mass circumcision ceremony at a mosque in Ampang.

A boy waits his turn to take part in the mass circumcision ceremony.

Boys react as they wait their turn to take part in a mass circumcision ceremony.

A mother comforts her son as he undergoes circumcision.

Boys are hosed down with water before the mass circumcision ceremony at the mosque.

Boys are hosed down with water before the circumcision ceremony.

PHOTOS: AFP

COMMENTS (13)

Kimberly Shirley | 8 years ago | Reply Shameful on the boys @U know:

U know | 8 years ago | Reply Now I still feel the pain .

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U know | 8 years ago | Reply I am one of the boys getting cut .i feel shamful during the whole cut. I am 11 years old this year. Why should I get cut.

Tim Shane | 8 years ago | Reply How about a follow up report about the massive long term damage done to these children?

Mark | 8 years ago | Reply @Zain 1. In Europe, almost no-one is circumcised unless their parents are Jewish or Muslim, but the UK, Greece, Denmark, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Finland, Iceland, and Malta all have lower rates of cervical cancer than Israel. Sweden, France, Norway, Austria, Germany and Spain have lower rates than the USA. Several national medical organizations recommend against infant male circumcision. Two of them have called for it to be banned, and one has said they'd support a ban if they didn't think it would drive the practice underground. Not all Jewish people believe in infant circumcision. Brit Shalom is an alternative naming ceremony to celebrate the birth of baby boys (and girls) to Jewish families. There are several websites run by Jewish people opposed to infant circumcision:

Zain - USA | 8 years ago | Reply Circumcision is still very common practice in US, even among Non-Muslims. It is widely practiced since it prevent the incidence of Cancer in the cervix of the females, yes females after the marriage. It is also hygienic practice. It prevents from many infections. It is not primitive, it is medically preferred and hygienic practice. Most Jews also do circumcision, a very highly educated group in US.

Sara | 8 years ago | Reply @Mark... .Muslims are meant to keep themselves clean and it necessary for them to not have spots of urination on their clothes before prayer or anytime of the day. I'm pretty sure "the small bit of skin" will create a hurdle in this regard

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply Why are they always doing things against what normal guys do? They cut off mustache and keep the beard, just like an old goat in heat.

Huang | 8 years ago | Reply Backward and primitive!

kfaial | 8 years ago | Reply Circumsision was quite common in USA at one time...

raw is war | 8 years ago | Reply looks barbaric.

Mark | 8 years ago | Reply I'd pay a year's salary rather than be circumcised. Why would I want the most sensitive parts cut off? That little bit of skin makes a big difference.

Allah Hafiz | 8 years ago | Reply please spare the childrens atleast,,,,,,,,,

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