A man whipped himself until he bled during a Shia Muslim religious ceremony, before allegedly forcing two boys to do the same, a court has heard.
Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, is accused of encouraging the boys, aged 13 and 15, to beat themselves at a community centre in Manchester on 19 January.
Manchester Crown Court was played a film showing Mr Zaidi beating himself with a whip made of knives and chains.
Mr Zaidi, of Station Road, Eccles, denies two counts of child cruelty.
It is the first case of its kind ever to be prosecuted in the UK.
(..)
The court heard how Mr Zaidi had attended a meeting at the community centre two days before the ceremony, where it was made plain that children under the age of 16 should not participate.
Mr Zaidi denies forcing the boys to participate and claims they had requested to take part.
Mr Nuttall said: "The prosecution say the defendant ignored the advice given to him that this practice was not allowed for children under 16 years of age."
He said Zaidi forced the boys to participate in a ceremony "clearly designed to cause self harm".
Mr Nuttall added: "This was not only against their own will but in any event is not allowed by law."
The case continues.
(more)
Source: BBC (English)
See also: Netherlands: Day of Ashura
Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, is accused of encouraging the boys, aged 13 and 15, to beat themselves at a community centre in Manchester on 19 January.
Manchester Crown Court was played a film showing Mr Zaidi beating himself with a whip made of knives and chains.
Mr Zaidi, of Station Road, Eccles, denies two counts of child cruelty.
It is the first case of its kind ever to be prosecuted in the UK.
(..)
The court heard how Mr Zaidi had attended a meeting at the community centre two days before the ceremony, where it was made plain that children under the age of 16 should not participate.
Mr Zaidi denies forcing the boys to participate and claims they had requested to take part.
Mr Nuttall said: "The prosecution say the defendant ignored the advice given to him that this practice was not allowed for children under 16 years of age."
He said Zaidi forced the boys to participate in a ceremony "clearly designed to cause self harm".
Mr Nuttall added: "This was not only against their own will but in any event is not allowed by law."
The case continues.
(more)
Source: BBC (English)
See also: Netherlands: Day of Ashura
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