First case of ritual child flagellation ends in conviction
27/08/2008
"The case of the first person to be convicted of child cruelty during a ritual ceremony involving flagellation makes clear the law is there to protect children", said Greater Manchester Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Carol Jackson.
Miss Jackson said: "The CPS wishes to make it clear that this prosecution was not an attack upon the practices or ceremonies of Shia Muslims. Indeed, the prosecution relied as part of its evidence upon the President of the local Shia Community Centre."
Syed Mustafa Zaidi was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of two charges of cruelty to children under the age of 16; one charge relating to a boy of 15 years and one to a boy of 13 years.
Miss Jackson said: "The law exists to protect the young from harm or being exposed to harm. In this case, both boys were made to take part in the ritual flagellation and suffered injuries to their backs.
"We are satisfied that, given the age of the children involved, the coercion employed by Syed Mustafa Zaidi, who did not accept that he was wrong, and the possibility of such an incident occurring again, the decision to prosecute by the Crown Prosecution Service was the correct one."
The court was told that Syed Mustafa Zaidi used a Zangeer Zani - a wooden handle attached to a number of chains with curved blades at the ends - to flagellate himself then made the two boys use it as well. Members of the centre were so concerned at what was happening that they intervened.
Miss Jackson said: "This is a very unusual case and the first of its kind to be prosecuted by the CPS in England and Wales."
Notes to Editors
- During the festival of Ashura, some Shia Muslim males flagellate themselves with a Zangeer Zani. The festival is to commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed at the battle of Karbala. The festival of Ashura began on 10 January 2008 and lasts for 40 days.
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