Saturday, October 13, 2018

Egypt: Bisha'a the trial of fire where you prove your innocence by licking a red hot metal object

(Cairo) Bisha'a is a ritual practised by Bedouin tribes of  Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the purpose of lie detection. The ritual consists of the accused being asked to lick a hot metal object (spoon, ladle, rod, etc.) thrice. He is provided with water for rinsing after the ceremony. He /she is then inspected by the official who presides over the ceremony  If the person undergoing the ritual is found to have a scarred or burnt tongue, it is concluded that they are lying. The Howeitat Bedouin call this ritual "the true light of God".

The British when they ruled Egypt banned this evil practice and it is still apparently banned in modern day Egypt.  However it is still practised by some of the more fervent crowd as this video from DW shows: