A 14-year-old New Zealand girl nearly lost her eyesight when her eyes were gouged by relatives in a Maori exorcism ceremony in which her cousin died, a report said on Monday.
The girl is recovering after emergency operations to save her sight after relatives scratched at her eyes to remove the devil, the Dominion Post newspaper said, quoting unnamed sources.
Members of the indigenous Maori family also syringed water into her eyes and poured it down her throat in an attempt to drive out the curse.
The girl’s cousin, 22-year-old Janet Moses, drowned during the October 12 ceremony, which reportedly left the house ankle deep in water.
The ceremony was reportedly held to remove a Maori curse after Moses’ sister stole a stone lion from outside a hotel.
Police have declined to give detailed information about the ceremony in a house in Wainuiomata, near the capital Wellington.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy told the newspaper police were still gathering evidence, seeking legal advice and consulting Maori experts.
”We know what’s happened, but we’re assessing the culpability of individuals,” he said.
Up to 40 members of the extended indigenous Maori family attended the ceremony, when Moses also had her eyes scratched and water poured down her throat. Her body was grazed and bruised, indicating she was held down during the curse-lifting.
After she died, the family continued to work on the 14-year-old girl, who reportedly nearly died and spent several days in hospital for treatment of her eyes and other injuries.
Another five family members were also worked on during the curse-lifting ceremony, but were not injured.
The Polynesian Maori settled New Zealand around 1300. Following the settlement of the country by European settlers in the 19th century, they now make up about 15% of the population. – Sapa-AFP