Controversial Islamic Healing Practices Raise Concerns in France, Study Finds

Entitled "New sectarian drifts under the cover of rigorous practices in Islam", this investigation shows how the roqya-hijama business is profitable, but also how these so-called therapeutic practices attributed to Islam are dangerous. According to Bilel Ainine, doctor of political science and researcher at the CNRS, these merchants "take advantage of the appeal of this medico-spiritual therapeutic offer by offering formulas which, in addition to being most often at odds with the traditional rituals of Islam in this matter, contain deviant practices that fall within the criminal field".

For the researcher specialized in radicalization issues, interviewed by Le Parisien, these are actions "often carried out under the cover of a supposed religious rigorism, which tend to become commonplace thanks to an increasingly professionalized practice". This practice causes "dozens of victims per year", he says.

The investigation mentions Algeria where a young girl died on Wednesday after an exorcism session. The Moroccan and Algerian authorities "had to react to proceed with the closure of unauthorized roqya clinics", it is specified. Yet "several dozen have a storefront, not to mention the many individuals and training centers," says a French intelligence agent.

"Many mothers whose children have psychological problems discreetly recommend addresses. When I hear them discuss it, I intervene, because these centers often ask them to stop treatments and consultations with real specialists. The damage takes a long time to repair," says a Moroccan-born nurse to the newspaper Le Parisien.