Mother 'will allow son's circumcision in return for release from prison'

After going missing with her child in February, she was found at a shelter last week and arrested

Heather Hironimus argues the circumcision of her son “will permanently and irreversibly mutilate” him (AP)

A woman who was jailed for fleeing with her son to avoid his circumcision has given up her fight over the surgery.

Heather Hironimus signed paperwork Friday 22 May to allow the procedure to go ahead and enable her release, following a morning court hearing.

Hironimus and the child’s father, Dennis Nebus, were never married but share custody of their child.

In a parenting agreement filed in court, the two agreed to the boy's circumcision, which Hironimus later rejected, leading to a long battle in court.

Nebus called the circumcision “just the normal thing to do,” denying any religious reasons for the cutting of the boy’s foreskin.

Hironimus faced dwindling legal options after spending one week in jail after ignoring a judge’s warning of imprisonment for failure to appear in court.

After going missing with her child in February, she was found at a shelter last week and arrested.

The case is being monitored by anti-circumcision activists who protest the decision.