Exorcism gone wrong - Palestinian man dies after being beaten by 'healers'
According to AFP, Ashraf Mashaal was suffering from various psychiatric deficiencies which prompted his parents to solicit the services of two "sorcerers."
By JPOST.COM STAFFPalestinian policeman (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian authorities are investigating the beating death of a 19-year-old man who was attacked by so-called "healers" during an exorcism sought by the victim's family.According to AFP, Ashraf Mashaal was suffering from various psychiatric deficiencies which prompted his parents to solicit the services of two "sorcerers."Mashaal, a 19-year-old college student who was enrolled at Hebron University, was subjected to an "exorcism" performed by the two healers, a man and a woman.During the ritual, the two healers began physically assaulting Mashaal as a way to supposedly exorcise demons within him, police sources told local media. The man's father and brother joined the healers in the assault.Mashaal suffered head and chest injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.Police arrested the two healers as well as the man's father and brother.