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March 2, 2006

UK: Muslim Exorcism Father Burned Himself To Death

The Oldham Advertiser relates that a Muslim father, who supervised and assisted in his daughter's notorious "exorcism" 13 years ago, which led to the poor woman's death, has taken his own life. The death of Shazad Bashir, originally from Pakistan, brings to an end a cycle of tragedy and violence. Last year, on April 14, his wife died of leukemia only a month after diagnosis.

Unable to cope with the loss of his wife, 56-year old Shazad Bashir, originally from Pakistan, doused himself with petrol exactly a fortnight later, and burned to death.

The news is now being released as the details of his death are being discussed at Oldham Magistrate's Court, in an inquest which concluded that Mr Bashir had taken his life while suffering a bout of depression.

The death of his daughter, 20-year old Kousar in June 1991 was notorious in Britain's newspapers, as it exposed the ignorance and barbarism of some practitioners of Islam.

Kousar herself had a history of mental illness, and was suffering depression after failing a driving test, when Shazad decided that he would seek the assistance of two self-styled "holy men" in an attempt to help his daughter.

Mohammed Bashir and Nourani Sayeed took it upon themselves to dismiss psychiatrists' assessments and proclaim that instead of suffering a mental illness, Koushar was possessed.

They demanded 200 pounds to rid Kousar of her "demons". The exorcism was a grim and, for Kousar humiliating and painful experience, which she endured for eight days before it finally killed her.

During the "exorcism" the two "holy men" starved her and deprived her of sleep, and forced her to eat chilli powder. They beat her to death with a heavy glass ashtray and a walking stick, and got Mr Bashir to assist in punching his daughter.

Kousar had 17 broken ribs by the time she died, with a broken sternum and she also had been cut three times between the breasts.

In March 1992, the charlatan "exorcists" were jailed, with Nourani Sayeed given a five year sentence. Mohammed Bashir was given a life sentence.

Shazad Bashir, Kousar's father, never emotionally recovered from the experience, the inquest was told. His GP said he had problems with sleeplessness and resorted to heavy drinking, and had a long history of depression. For nine months before his suicide, Bashir was receiving treatment.

His son, Shazad jnr, told the inquest that following Kousar's death, Mr Bashir had become quiet and withdrawn, but he did not seek help. He last spoke to his father on April 28, 2005, the morning of his death. He had been praying for the soul of his wife.

Shazad jnr was unaware that his father had earlier the same morning asked some children to fill up a nine-litere container of petrol.

Shazad senior was at his home, while his younger sister Ashar was reading the Koran to him. Then he got up, and walked into the yard behind the house. Seeing flames though the window, Ashar called the emergency services.

Shazad Bashir senior was covered in almost 100% burns. Even the soles of his feet were burned. He was still alive, and told police that he had set himself on fire. He told Rifakat, another son, that he had got the youngsters to fetch the petrol.

Coroner Simon Nelson told Shazad Bashir: "I only hope that you and your family are able to move on and remember some of the qualities he had prior to entering his state of anxiety."

There are few things more horrific and morale-destroying, perhaps, than knowing that one has contributed to the death of a loved one. There is no suggestion that Mr Bashir meant ill-will towards his daughter when he sought an exorcism, but he obviously felt guilt after the incident.

The real criminal aspect of the case is the blind belief that Islam could provide the answer to a mental health problem. The two charlatans who set themselves up as "holy men", when they had no experience of dealing with mental illness, were violent animals, who effectively exploited a confused young woman, and tortured her to death, in the name of Islam.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 2, 2006 11:57 AM

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