AIBU to think this is an act of child cruelty?

[RedPoppyRed]

It is a daily fail link and I will say WARNING it is a distressing picture.

For those who don't want to see it the picture it is of a religious ceremony where by a small child of about 18 months is having his forehead cut open as an act of commemoration. He looks terrified.

AIBU to believe that respect and homage could have been shown by using paint instead of inflicting injury on a child?

There is in my mind no religion that promotes the harming of children (or anyone else for that matter) and this barbaric practice should be stopped.

WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURE

Yes to spiders

It's useless to 'rank' physical mutilations and cuttings in order of acceptability really.

YY

I've had a look and although you can see the skin sunken ever so slightly where is it pressed there is no wound to any babies head. They show two babies who are partaking in the "ceremony" and neither show a wound or a speck of blood at all.

I think that if there were injured there would be pictures. I am speculating that the knives are blunt and it is symbolism only.

I am not saying that what they are doing with a blunt knife is not disturbing and not child abuse.

I've looked at the pictures and the ones that don't include the children are disturbing as well.

It's a Shi'ite Muslim thing to commemorate the death of their Prophet Mohammed's grandson.

They all (adults, kids, elderly) cutting themselves (or being cut) or self-flagellating with knives (cat-o-nine type knives thing too :S) on their heads, back or chest. The belief is the blood-letting relieves them of sin etc etc.

I'm really not sure why the OP felt the need to ask whether they are BU in thinking it's cruelty, because it's obvious those who don't celebrate in that way think they are think it's awful (myself included). It's their faith though and they don't believe it's abuse/cruelty, in fact they probably believe the opposite - that not doing it would be abuse.. having their child live with their sins.

Certainly opened my eyes to a ritual I knew nothing about

Some quite young ones here and these are not symbolism only.

Aww look at the mother's face (4th down) as she looks at the blood.

It's amazing what people can get used to because the women who hold down girls for FGM tend to be happy too.

I saw the photos, regardless of the newspaper's agenda it doesn't change the fact that its barbaric act towards a baby.