The affair caused a stir among many Internet users. A 10-year-old girl died on Wednesday in Guelma, in eastern Algeria, during a violent exorcism (roqya) session.
The prosecutor's office of Guelma announced Thursday the arrest of the “healer” or raqui. No details were given on the reasons for which the girl had been subjected to this session, which took place "in her family home".
According to the statement of the public prosecutor's office, reproduced by the media, the victim died on arrival at the emergency department. “The girl's body bore traces of beatings and burns. The prosecution ordered an autopsy and the opening of an investigation, the same source said.
"Torture session"
Exorcists are often called upon to treat the sick, "cast out the demon", protect themselves from the evil eye or come to the aid of sterile wives. If Islam allows exorcism, considered legal because it is done with the word of God - through the recitation of the Koran -, many people denounce the fact that this practice is often done by unscrupulous people who abuse the plight of the sick, especially those with mental and spiritual illnesses.
On social networks, many internet users have expressed their anger, referring to "a torture session" at the hands of a 28 year old "executioner". 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". "We are going to pretend for a long time not to see [...] the ten year old girl tortured and killed by a raki in Guelma? “Journalist Akram Kharief, director of the MENA Defense site, also rose on his Facebook page.
