Sacked doctor admits charge of harming children in ‘unsafe and cruel’ circumcisions

An old doctor offers a mobile phone circumcision service accepted child cruelty after leaving his patients with “emotional and physical scars” from their procedures.

Between June 2012 and November 2013, Mohammad Siddiqui, 56, traveled across the country performing non-therapeutic (not clinically necessary) male circumcisions on patients as young as 14 years old.

He was suspended from practice at Southampton General Hospital and later removed from the UK General Medical Council Register in 2015 after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel found him guilty of failing to carry out procedures at the homes of four babies.

Through his work as a clinical researcher in pediatric surgery at Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, he was able to source the anesthetic Bupivacaine Hydrochloride.

Despite being fired, Siddiqui continued to run his mobile circumcision service and use anesthesia. He was able to do this because non-therapeutic male circumcision is against the rules and does not have to be performed by a medical doctor.

At Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday he admitted a total of 25 offences, including 12 counts of actual bodily harm, five counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and eight counts of unlawful use of prescription-only medicines.

Siddiqui is expected to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on January 14, 2025.

Anja Hohmeyer, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Siddiqui carried out these acts of circumcision in an unsafe and unhealthy environment, thus inflicting painful cruelty on the children and leaving them with emotional and physical scars.

“He completely disregarded the impact of his actions on his victims, their families and their communities. “We hope this conviction will provide some comfort in bringing Siddiqui to justice.”

Detective Superintendent Fiona Bitters, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: “This was a complex investigation driven by a desire to achieve and protect justice for children. Siddiqui’s defense at this stage of his trial, together with evidence that a number of victims have already been presented, is a clear indication of our case to the court.” It shows its power.

“Our investigation was about the crimes committed by Siddiqui while performing the circumcision procedures and was not about the circumcision itself.

“I hope today’s plea helps provide some comfort to the victims who have had to wait many years to see justice served for their actions.”