Children Sacrificed During Religious Rituals
Jim Kouri, CPP
June 28, 2005
In a bizarre story appearing in the London-based newspaper The Independent, the Metropolitan Police reports that children are being trafficked from Africa and then abused -- even killed -- as part of sacrificial ceremonies in the UK. The confidential report, which was leaked to BBC Radio 4's Today program, also reveals that police officials suspect children are being beaten and even murdered because their parents and caregivers believe them to be possessed by evil spirits.
The secret report was ordered by Metro police in response to the death of eight-year-old girl, and over concerns about so-called faith crimes. The purpose of the highly confidential report was to "open a dialogue with Asian and African communities," according to The Independent news story
A social worker and lawyer commissioned by the police spent a year interviewing various community groups, and they compiled the report.
Excerpts from the report included: "People who are desperate will seek out witchcraft experts to cast spells for them. Members of the workshop stated that for a spell to be powerful it required a sacrifice involving a male child unblemished by circumcision.
"They allege that boy children are being trafficked into the UK for this purpose. Specific details were not forthcoming as the belief was that they would be 'dead meat' if we tell you any more."
The report also suggested that children are trafficked as domestic and sex slaves, and even for men with HIV who believe that if they have sex with a child, they will be cleansed.
The reporting attorney and social workers, however, conceded that these were allegations, and they could not test whether they were true. But they voiced concerns that children could be in serious and possibly life-threatening situations.
The report also highlighted concerns about church pastors identifying children as witches, who then suffer violence at the hands of their own parents. The report claims these pastors and their churches are a "lucrative business" operating throughout the UK, Europe and Africa.
The report stated: "A number of pastors maintain that God speaks to them and lets them know when someone is possessed ... after much debate, they acknowledged that children labeled as possessed are in danger of being beaten by their families.
"However, they would not accept that they played a major role in inciting such violence."
BBC STORY ON ABUSE
Earlier this month Sita Kisanga was found guilty of abusing an eight-year-old girl in the so-called "witch girl" trial. In an extraordinary interview with the BBC's radio show Today, she professed her innocence but admitted that she believed the girl was possessed by the evil spirit of Kindoki.
The defendant was facing a lengthy prison sentence -- accused of child cruelty and conspiring to murder an eight year old girl.
The child, who wasn't be named for legal reasons, had told the court how she had been tortured. Chili pepper was rubbed in her eyes, she was hit with a shoe, whipped with a belt, cut with a knife, slapped and punched and starved. At one stage she'd been zipped up in a laundry bag ready to be thrown in a river. It was described as "horrific abuse," by the BBC reporter Angus Stickler.
The secret report was ordered by Metro police in response to the death of eight-year-old girl, and over concerns about so-called faith crimes. The purpose of the highly confidential report was to "open a dialogue with Asian and African communities," according to The Independent news story
A social worker and lawyer commissioned by the police spent a year interviewing various community groups, and they compiled the report.
Excerpts from the report included: "People who are desperate will seek out witchcraft experts to cast spells for them. Members of the workshop stated that for a spell to be powerful it required a sacrifice involving a male child unblemished by circumcision.
"They allege that boy children are being trafficked into the UK for this purpose. Specific details were not forthcoming as the belief was that they would be 'dead meat' if we tell you any more."
The report also suggested that children are trafficked as domestic and sex slaves, and even for men with HIV who believe that if they have sex with a child, they will be cleansed.
The reporting attorney and social workers, however, conceded that these were allegations, and they could not test whether they were true. But they voiced concerns that children could be in serious and possibly life-threatening situations.
The report also highlighted concerns about church pastors identifying children as witches, who then suffer violence at the hands of their own parents. The report claims these pastors and their churches are a "lucrative business" operating throughout the UK, Europe and Africa.
The report stated: "A number of pastors maintain that God speaks to them and lets them know when someone is possessed ... after much debate, they acknowledged that children labeled as possessed are in danger of being beaten by their families.
"However, they would not accept that they played a major role in inciting such violence."
BBC STORY ON ABUSE
Earlier this month Sita Kisanga was found guilty of abusing an eight-year-old girl in the so-called "witch girl" trial. In an extraordinary interview with the BBC's radio show Today, she professed her innocence but admitted that she believed the girl was possessed by the evil spirit of Kindoki.
The defendant was facing a lengthy prison sentence -- accused of child cruelty and conspiring to murder an eight year old girl.
The child, who wasn't be named for legal reasons, had told the court how she had been tortured. Chili pepper was rubbed in her eyes, she was hit with a shoe, whipped with a belt, cut with a knife, slapped and punched and starved. At one stage she'd been zipped up in a laundry bag ready to be thrown in a river. It was described as "horrific abuse," by the BBC reporter Angus Stickler.
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