CHILD ABUSE and Witchcraft

*Warning: AL JAZEERA AMERICA presentation*

The number of abuse cases linked to faith in London more than doubled last year.

In one case a nine-year-old boy was labelled a "devil child" and thrown out of his house by his parents, detectives revealed.

A mum BIT her son and tried to smother him as she believed he was a "witch possessed by evil spirits".

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TRAGIC: Victoria Climbié was abused by her great-aunt – who said she was possessed

Project Violet – the specialist faith-based abuse team within the Met Police – Service, has identified 60 incidents so far in 2015.

A investigation by Radio 5 Live found councils recorded 31 cases of children being accused of witchcraft or possession by spirits in 2014.

This compares to 21 cases in 2013 and ten in 2012.

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BURNED: Victoria told police she burned herself because Satan told her to

“You'll get the actual physical abuse and injuries taking place – and in the worst case scenario we've had some homicides as well.”

Det Sgt Terry Sharpe

Det Sgt Terry Sharpe – of Project Violet – said: "You'll get the actual physical abuse and injuries taking place – and in the worst case scenario we've had some homicides as well.

"We've had a case within the last year where a nine-year-old boy had been called a devil child and thrown out of his address by his parents and was found by social services standing in his bare feet."

Some cases have been within Britain's African community.

Debbie Ariyo – founder of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse – said that within churches there is often a financial motivation behind claims.

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AMPUTATED: Abusers cut off this albino boy's hand after accusing him of being a witch in Tan...

She said: "The pastor says there's a witch in this church today, looks around and points to a child – that means public humiliation for the family.

"The next step is exorcism which is not done for free. It's a money-making scam."

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ABUSERS: Magalie Bamu and Eric Bikubi

Magalie Bamu was jailed for life in 2012 for torturing and drowning her younger brother Kristy after her lover Eric Bikubi claimed he was a witch.

Eight-year-old Victoria Climbié was tortured to death by her great-aunt, Marie-Thérèse Kouao, in London – who claimed she was possessed.