Persecution of people with albinism

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Persecution of people with albinism (sometimes abbreviated PWA) is human sacrifice based on the belief that certain body parts of albinistic people hold supernatural powers when used as magical ingredients. Such beliefs are present in some parts of the African Great Lakes region, and have been exploited by witch doctors who use such body parts as ingredients in religious rituals which are claimed to bring prosperity (this phenomenon is known as muti or medicine murder). As a result, people with albinism have been persecuted, killed and dismembered. At the same time, people with albinism have also been ostracised and even killed for exactly the opposite reason, because they are presumed to be cursed and bring bad luck. The persecutions of people with albinism take place mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa communities, especially within East Africa. Albinism is a genetically inherited condition which is rare and worldwide it affects approximately one in twenty thousand people. Although rare in...

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