Major Conference on African Child Abuse, Exorcism Cases Scheduled

A key conference is being organised by a charity to look into how churches can keep African children safe in the UK, amid child exorcism and witchcraft allegations among some African communities recently.

|TOP|Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA), a charity based in London, has organised the event, and is seeking to put in place a registration system for people who wish to establish places of worship in the UK.

It is expected that the conference will coincide with a government report due out, which many believe will reveal around 50 cases of child abuse of African children in London.

Details of children being beaten in exorcism rituals, such as slashing with razors, starving and rubbing chilli peppers into children's eyes will be revealed, following a string of child abuse cases.

The exact figures of cases in London in the past five years will also be revealed in the official report.

Attention focused on witchcraft rituals after the discovery of "Adam", an unknown African boy whose torso was found in the Thames in 2001.

A major international symposium has taken place to respond to the issue last month at the Methodist Central Hall in London.

|AD|Across Britain, the African churches are the fastest growing sector of Christianity, but as these churches have experienced huge growth, it has been reported that other entirely separate beliefs are present in the UK, which “masquerade as Christianity and prey on the most alienated and isolated members of society.”

The BBC also explains how many parts of London with large African populations are regularly leafleted by traditional “spiritual healers”, who proclaim they are doctors and professors, and profess themselves as being able to defeat black magic.

These “healers” divert away from core Christian teachings, and some even present themselves as bona fide Christian leaders in order to gain the respect and trust of vulnerable members of the community.

Dennis Tongoi, the African Region Director of Church Mission Society, spoke out against those committing acts of abuse against children in the name of God.

Calling for a distinguishment to be made, Tongoi told how some of the rogue churches and pastors did not even own a Bible, let alone read its teachings.

“Any ministry that harms people and calls itself Christian, is not Christian!” he declared.

Pastor Irukwu, who is also Chairman of the largest denomination African-derived Pentecostal churches in Britain, said, “It is extremely important to have this research published. We don’t know the truth and real extent of what we are dealing with, and rumours are beginning to circulate.”

Irukwu continued, “We are concerned that unless the government handles this wisely, it could in fact drive a wedge between black-majority churches and the wider society, particularly when the newer churches are beginning to make their contribution in addressing some of society’s problems.”

Calling for the government to consult with the black churches more effectively, Irukwu said, “We know it is an immensely difficult position of responsibility, and we want to share that responsibility in order to help them get things right.”

Debbie Ariyo, Executive Director of AFRUCA has called for places of worship to become sanctuaries for vulnerable children, and added: “We need to work hand in hand with our faith communities for the protection of our children.”