Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersNews
EXORCISTS CONDEMNED
Shelina Begum24/ 9/2004
NORTH west Asians suffering from mental illness have been warned
against bogus exorcists and faith healers by a leading imam.
Mufti Barkatullah, a pioneering Imam from the Finchley Mosque in
London said often sufferers thought they were possessed by jinns
and turned to quack religious 'experts'.
They can then become victims of long, often frightening, exorcisms
and fleeced of cash.
The 'treatment' invariably makes the mental disorder worse and, in
the case of females, frequently leads of desperate self-harm like
cutting said Mufti Barkatullah who recently hit the headlines with
his controversial Islamic marriage contract aimed at improving
wives' rights.
He was speaking to a conference on depressive illness in Manchester
attended by Asian community groups and psychiatrists.
He said: "I get many people ringing to tell me that they are
possessed by the jinn. They tell me that they have visited many
faith healers who have given them a tabbeese (talisman) but it has
not worked.
"I am not a medical doctor and cannot diagnose people but I can
tell when a person is not possessed by jinn but actually has a
medical problems and needs to seek urgent medical advice.
"I tell these people to go to their GPs urgently and not to visit
faith healers who use Islam as an excuse to practice their bogus
trade."
Mufti Barkatullah said mental illness, especially depression, was a
growing menace in the south Asians community. Pakistani-origin
women were the most susceptible.
"I am not saying jinns do not exist. As Muslims we believe that
there are jinns and that they can dwell in human bodies.
"But that doesn't mean that everybody suffering from epilepsy is
possessed by the jinn."
A victim of exorcism, eighteen-year-old Sureha Begum, from
Manchester, attended the conference. She suffered from chronic
depression and was self-harming after an arranged marriage in
Bangladesh. When she became ill her parents were told that she was
possessed by jinns.
They spent over £3,000 on faith healers and exorcisms. It was only
after receiving medical help, that Sureha was diagnosed with
depression.
Said Sureha: "Faith healers told my parents that I was possessed
and the more my mental health deteriorated the more these faith
healers convinced them it was the work of the jinn. I am glad I am
now receiving proper help. These faith healers know your weaknesses
as soon as you open your mouth and they use it to con people out of
hundreds of pounds."
Go to Heritage for the full story of Sureha's ordeal
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x144b6210) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |