People should remember that it’s easy for the authorities to check whether or not someone stole your genitals. Police in Zanzibar have arrested 10 people in connection with a wave of mass panic over false claims that strangers were stealing men’s genitals through touch, a phenomenon that sparked mob violence and attacks on innocent bystanders. The Regional Police Commander said the arrests were made between April 4th and 9th after a series of incidents in which men alleged their genitals had mysteriously disappeared after being touched by strangers in public places, including on commuter buses and at a market.
In one case, a businessman returning home by motorcycle taxi was surrounded by a mob, accused, had his door broken down, was assaulted, and had his property stolen. Medical examinations confirmed that none of the complainants had suffered any physical changes, which is the least surprising part of the story. Police warned the public against spreading what they called baseless rumors, noting the false claims were leading to real violence. The suspects face charges including giving false information, breach of peace, and theft.
Source: The Citizen
