A doctor arrested in Uppsala on suspicion of assault after performing circumcisions on boys has been released, though the suspicions against him remain, SVT reported.
Police acted at a premises in Sala backe in Uppsala on Sunday, detaining the doctor while he was carrying out circumcisions on boys. He was released on Monday. The prosecutor's office in Ă–rebro, which handles healthcare cases, is to investigate whether the circumcision was performed under legal conditions.
The doctor's lawyer, Stefan Wallin, said his client denies any crime. "He completely denies criminality and is still in shock. He has a Swedish medical licence and competence in urology," Wallin said.
According to Wallin, the doctor has permission from IVO, the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, to perform circumcisions, and runs a clinic in another part of Sweden where he carries out the procedures. He has travelled to other parts of the country several times before to perform circumcisions.
"It has gone completely wrong here," Wallin said, criticising the media reporting and the police operation. Reports initially circulated of suspected genital mutilation, which drew widespread attention. Genital mutilation of girls is forbidden in Sweden without exception.
"The information about genital mutilation is completely made up, it is completely incorrect," Wallin said, adding: "Circumcision is extremely common and occurs in different cultures and faiths. It is prejudice that creates reactions."
One boy was taken to hospital for surgery after a circumcision was performed. The boy was able to leave hospital on Monday, according to the Prosecution Authority. That procedure is the one being investigated as assault, according to prosecutor Emma Haals, the former head of the preliminary investigation.
"Nothing has gone wrong according to my client," Wallin said. Hanna Göthberg at the prosecutor's office in Örebro said she is familiarising herself with the investigation and does not want to comment at present.
Under the law on circumcision of boys, the procedure must be carried out "under reassuring hygienic conditions". Wallin said the doctor "has taken all measures required in connection with such a procedure".