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Sweden jails couple for exorcist beating

A Swedish district court on Tuesday jailed a couple from the Democratic Republic of Congo for performing exorcisms on the woman's daughter, whom they considered to be a witch, by threatening and beating her.

Published: 5 June 2013 07:12 CEST

Sweden jails couple for exorcist beating

It was the second Congolese couple in less than a month to be sentenced to prison for exorcism-related abuse in the western town of Borås.

A man identifying himself as the father of the victim, but who was later shown to be her uncle, was on Tuesday sentenced to 22 months in prison for aggravated assault, unlawful coercion and for making threats.

The mother was sentenced to eight months behind bars for making threats.

The abuse took place between February 2007 and February 2008 when the girl was ten years old.

She had told police of exorcism sessions where she was held down in bed and threatened with an electric cord, and forced to drink a mixture of detergent and urine. The girl was hospitalized after falling unconscious and vomiting blood.

The defendants, who denied the charges, were also ordered to pay 60,000 kronor ($9,000) in damages to the girl.

On May 14th, a Swedish appeals court jailed another couple from the Democratic Republic of Congo for having performed exorcisms on their daughter.

The girl told the court her arm had been cut with a burning knife to get her to confess her sins, and had her head shaved because “the spirit” was in her hair.

AFP/The Local/dl

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Police arrest 30 protesters after Congo riot causes fire

Gare de Lyon train station was partially evacuated. Photo: Julien Claus/AFP

The nearby Gare de Lyon train station was partially evacuated during the chaos and police warned Parisians to stay away as a thick, black column of smoke billowed over the city centre.

Authorities had banned protests around the concert by singer Fally Ipupa at the AccorHotels Arena in the capital but dozens turned out in anger nevertheless, facing off with the artist's fans and trading insults.

“With their music, they (the Congolese government) are bringing an entire people to their side while they slaughter and rape women and children,” opponent Willy Dendebe told AFP at the scene.

“I have been here (in France) for 30 years because of them! Thirty years and we let them be here in France as if nothing has happened. So yes, we are angry!”

Police said 30 people were arrested and 54 fined for participating in a banned protest, while train traffic was severely disrupted.

On Twitter, Paris police denounced the “unacceptable violence” and posted a video of what it said was “scandalous behaviour” by protesters shown wielding large roadworks barriers to prevent firefighters from getting to the flames.

Outside the station, AFP witnessed a dozen firetrucks at work amid the smouldering wrecks of about 30 vehicles, mainly scooters. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner condemned the violence and damage caused in the area, while National Assembly member Eric Ciotti described the events as an “unacceptable urban riot”.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen called the demonstrators “scum” on Twitter and asked: “What image does our country give to the world?

'It's a shame'

Congolese expats regularly speak out against artists from home who perform in France or Belgium, accusing them of being close to former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila and his successor Felix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi took office in January 2019, succeeding President Joseph Kabila, who stepped down after 18 iron-fisted years at the helm. Many see Tshisekedi as an extension of his predecessor.

Last month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the Congolese army and other state agents committed rights violations in the conflict-wracked central African country.

Just days earlier, Amnesty International delivered a damning assessment of Tshisekedi's government, saying “insecurity and impunity continue to threaten human rights progress” in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lwangi Bienvenu, an Ipupa fan who travelled from Belgium for the concert, observed the chaos from his hotel near the Gare de Lyon.

“It's a shame. He's Congolese, we should all be behind him,” Bienvenu said of the singer. “People will talk about the bad inside us. They put people in danger and they will now surely cancel the concert.”

Paris has had its share of violent demonstrations in recent months with protesters ranging from the anti-government “yellow vests” movement to workers striking against pension reform setting fire to public property and smashing store windows during several marches, and clashing with police.

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