Albinos killed in Africa: Violence against albinos on the rise in Malawi - TomoNews
- 8 years ago
MALAWI — Albinos — people with no pigment in their skin, eyes and hair — are being hunted, attacked and killed in Malawi, according to an Amnesty International report.
Since November 2014, 18 murders and five kidnappings have been recorded, Reuters reported, citing the Amnesty report. Malawian authorities also documented 69 crimes against albinos, with some of the attackers being close family members of the victim. In April, four albinos were murdered, including a baby girl.
Albinos are sought for their body parts, which some Malawians believe to hold magical properties for use in witchcraft. There have been instances where Malawian children with albinism have been sold by their parents.
“Their bones are believed to be sold to practitioners of traditional medicine in Malawi and Mozambique for use in charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck,” Amnesty told Reuters.
Similar violence has also occurred in Mozambique, South Africa, Burundi and Tanzania.
Since November 2014, 18 murders and five kidnappings have been recorded, Reuters reported, citing the Amnesty report. Malawian authorities also documented 69 crimes against albinos, with some of the attackers being close family members of the victim. In April, four albinos were murdered, including a baby girl.
Albinos are sought for their body parts, which some Malawians believe to hold magical properties for use in witchcraft. There have been instances where Malawian children with albinism have been sold by their parents.
“Their bones are believed to be sold to practitioners of traditional medicine in Malawi and Mozambique for use in charms and magical potions in the belief that they bring wealth and good luck,” Amnesty told Reuters.
Similar violence has also occurred in Mozambique, South Africa, Burundi and Tanzania.