Albinos Unsafe in Africa

There are nearly 300,000 albinos in Tanzania and they are under attack from the barbaric, uneducated populace. According to popular thought in the region, albinos are believed to be cursed, practitioners of witchcraft, or some kind of ghost-like creature. Further, witchdoctors believe their limbs to be useful in potions which can bring their users great wealth.

There have been four albino deaths in the past three months in the region and albino women have been targeted in the past, but this is the first time albinos have been the target of ritual killings. Fear has gripped the albino community and the Tanzanian Albino Society says these backward beliefs are the cause of these murders and must be wiped-out. A teacher was recently arrested for killing his own albino child, but the TAS is calling for police to do more, including arresting the witchdoctors.