AIBU to think performing exorcisms on children is abuse?

[Anonimoose]

Someone I know has done this to their 10 and 11 year olds. I feel rather uneasy about it. AIBU?

[cariadlet]

For those who've forgotten poor Victoria Climbie, and find it hard to believe that abusive exorcisms are carried out on children here's a link.

www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jan/18/child-abuse-witchcraft-exorcism-rise

[Whiskwarrior]

Are you on a namechange, OP?

[mrsdavidbowie]

Call NSPCC. They will advise.

[Anonimoose]

Yes, I have name changed.

[Signlake]

It is absolutely abuse!

[Anonimoose]

It all seems to have started after the father had prayers and things read over him at place of worship because he is abusive to the mother. (The mother believes the father is influenced by the devil to be abusive.) This seems to have set them off down the path of children acting up = demon possession.
I might just see how things go for a while/ I don't want to report and the parents just lie and then no one can monitor what they are doing.

[mrsdavidbowie]

So you're not going to do anything???

[BiscuitMillionaire]

elephant in the room = are they from Africa?

[Anonimoose]

No not from Africa. They are British.
I don't mean I won't do anything, just that it might be better if I can get evidence of some sort?

[Anonimoose]

It could easily sound like a malicious report.

[littlehouseinthebigwoods]

What kind of place of worship was it? Just I interested as you said it wasn't a Christian exorcism so I wondered which faith this was based on?

[mrsdavidbowie]

Well I would rather be totally wrong, than have anything else happen to the children.

[OTheHugeManatee]

It happens.

[ChristmasZombie]

Please, please, please contact Social Services. Or your local CAF (sort of a lesser social services, who support families). You can do it anonymously and the very fact that there's been a report will be logged.
I don't mean to be dramatic, but it's a call that could legitimately save a life.

[imip]

Yes, report. ESP where it is because the children are naughty, lots of recent high profile cases read similarly. how terribly scary for the children.

[Anonimoose]

The problem with reporting right now is that I'm the only person outside their faith community who knows about it. I feel I need some type of evidence because the parents will lie and know I reported them, and then no one will know if they do anything more extreme IYSWIM?

[imip]

Oh, and if the father is already abusive towards the mother, the children have already suffered....

[DoraMarstellar]

Of course it's abuse.

Even if the children were asleep and totally unaware they were being exorcised, the children need rescuing from the parents because the parents are clearly and demonstrably insane if they believe that crap.

[imip]

Could you tell their school? Perhaps they could report?

[Anonimoose]

Is that a daft fear?

[dublingirl653]

i am CONVINCED this was happening next door in the very early hours of thur morning

so so scary
the screechs and sobs from the young person was terrifing
neighbours range the police

[Anonimoose]

dublingirl653 strangely enough it happened around 12/1 am on wed and Thurs.

[Onedayinthesun]

OP why did the parents think it was ok to tell you about this? They clearly feel this is absolutely normal behaviour. This is abuse and they need reporting, please tell ss

[TiredButFine]

There' has been a lot of awareness campaigns for the NHS/SS about this type of thing, there's a good chance professionals will take it seriously and understand. In particular in muslim communities there has been campaigns to highlight that what used to be seen as a "jinn" can often be mental ill health rather than an evil spirit.
If one child has SN then surely the family are known to SS who will take it seriously, please make the call.