Anindustry ofexorcisms has been identified within the UK, a government-ordered inquiry has heard.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is continuing to hear evidence regarding allegations of abuse in religious organisations and settings.

Groups representing victims and survivors from Muslim, Sikh and south Asian groups told the Inquiry that religious authorities exhibit a wilfull lack of understanding regarding abuse.

Giving evidence to the Inquiry, which is being chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE, one activist representing victims said that she was aware of a growing number of exorcisms in the UK.

Sadia Hameed,Director of Gloucestershire Sisters, which specialises in harmful traditional practices including: honour-based violence, forced marriage and FGM, said that folk traditions, including exorcisms are becoming more prevalent.

When I was younger, it almost didnt even exist, she told the hearing, which is taking place remotely via Zoom. You might have had someone that would pray and blow on you or pray on some water and give you that water to drink, but now, were seeing this industry of exorcisms happening in the UK.

And they might be happening in a mosque setting, or they might happen in somebodys home where somebody is invited to perform an exorcism, but theyve certainly grown in prevalence in recent times, I would say in the last decade.

Pragna Patel, director of Southall Black Sisters (SBS), also told the Inquiry on Friday that the ritualised healing that takes places is often a pretext for sexual abuse.

Earlier in the week the IICSA heard evidence from Moin Azmi, vice chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB), said that sexual abuse is not a rampant issue within the Muslim community.

He told the Inquiry: The sentencing within Islam is so, so severe that it gives shudders down somebody who even thinks about sexual abuse, and if thats the foundation of how Muslims think then the majority - Im not saying that there arent sexual abuses - Im saying the majority have a particular view of this issue.

In November, The Telegraph reported that witchcraft child abuse cases had risen by a third in two years, as experts blame cultural sensitivity and political correctness as barriers to protecting children.

Abuse of children based on faith or belief which includes witchcraft, spirit possession and black magic increased from 1,460 to 1,950 cases between 2016/17 and 2018/19, according to figures released by the Local Government Association (LGA).

The statistics came just months a trial at the Old Bailey which saw a mother of a then three-year-old girl become the first person to be convicted of FGM in the UK, following a failed bid to "shut up" her accusers with witchcraft.

The Ugandan woman, 37, and her Ghanaian partner, 43, both from Walthamstow, east London, were accused of cutting their daughter over the 2017 summer bank holiday.

Forty limes and other fruit were found with pieces of paper with names written on them stuffed inside, including those of police officers and a social worker involved in the investigation.

The spells and curses intended to deter police and social workers from investigating were found at the Ugandan woman's home, the trial heard.

The hearings continue.

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Exorcism 'now an industry' in the UK, Government-ordered inquiry hears - Telegraph.co.uk