DODOMA, Tanzania, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Albinos in Tanzania are not only shunned by general society, but face the potential of being killed, kidnapped or dismembered, a philanthropist says.
Under the Same Sun founder Peter Ash said deep-seeded prejudice and superstitions mean people with the congenital disorder live in constant danger, The National Post reported Saturday.
Ash, whose group seeks to end the violence, said the anti-albino campaign in the East African country has already claimed at least 45 lives.
"Most often, if they hack off both legs, or legs and an arm, they bleed to death really quickly," Ash said of those who attack albino Tanzanians. "In some cases, they slit the throat first and drain the blood into a pot. One mom we visited told how they came in and slit the girl's throat, and drank the blood on the spot."
Violence against albinos is also driven by a prevalent belief that albinos' bones can be used to create good luck charms, the Post reported.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said killing albinos based on witchcraft beliefs has been condemned by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
