Moroccan Imam Arrested for Alleged Child Exploitation in Treasure-Hunting Ritual

The suspect, the imam of a mosque in the locality of Ait Amri, is suspected of having tried to exploit children in charlatanism and "treasure hunting", reports the daily Assabah, adding that criminal charlatans believe that sacrificing a "zouhri" by offering his blood to the jinns, will help them find the treasure they are looking for. A belief that dates back to ancient times and still claims victims in Morocco.

It was the doubtful attitude of the imam, watching the children of a public school located near the said mosque and approaching them by examining their palms, that alerted the residents, indicates the same source.

The parents of the students thus filed a complaint against the fkih, thinking that he would be looking for a "zouhri" by examining the palms of their children. In popular belief, a "zourhi" has distinctive signs in the hand or in the eyes (strabismus). Before the gendarmes, during the initial investigations, the fkih did not admit the facts he is accused of.

It should be recalled that the mosque where the imam leads the prayer is also in the sights of the gendarmerie, because, frequented by dozens of people who are followers of this sacrificial ritual and charlatanism, notes the daily.