A 10-year-old girl died in eastern Algeria during a violent exorcism session, also called roqya. The case caused a stir among many Internet users, since the arrest on Thursday, May 28, of the “healer”, or raqué.
The Guelma Prosecutor’s Office, 500 km east of Algiers, announced the arrest of a suspect, explaining that the girl “suffered abuse during a roqya to which she was subjected in her family home “. No details were given on the reasons for this exorcism session.
The girl died upon arrival at the emergency department from Guelma hospital. According to the statement of the public prosecutor’s office reproduced by the media, “the girl’s body was carrying traces of beatings and burns“The prosecution ordered an autopsy and the opening of an investigation, the same source said.
An increasingly disparaged practice
In Algeria, the exorcists are often asked to treat the sick, “cast out the demon”, protect themselves from the evil eye or help sterile wives. If Islam allows exorcism, considered legal because it is done with the word of God, by the recitation of the Koran, many people denounce this practice. It is often caused by unscrupulous people who abuse the plight of the sick, especially those with mental illnesses.
On social networks, many Internet users have expressed their anger. The Algerian radio correspondent in the neighboring city of Constantine condemned an “abominable act committed by a charlatan”. “Until when will these crimes continue,” she wondered again on her Facebook page. Many on this social network denounced minimal media coverage of the drama “despite the cruelty of the facts committed by this charlatan”.
