Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on UK


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere

The facts behind the Da Vinci Code fiction


UK:

Double-life murder victim claimed to be ‘unbeatable’ faith healer

The Guardian, UK
May 10, 2006
Dancan Campbell
www.guardian.co.uk

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 14591 • Posted: Wednesday May 10, 2006  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: UK

The victim of a violent murder in Luton last month has been identified as a faith healer who promised clients he could solve all their problems in a week. Police are looking for former patients who might have been dissatisfied with the treatments of a man they say lived a double life.

Bedfordshire police took the unusual step of naming the victim yesterday as Alfusaine Jabbi, also known as Abdula and Mohammed Ali, 22, from Gambia, although he has yet to be formally identified. He had been in Britain since 2003 and had made his living as a spiritual healer called Mr Wahib.

“This man clearly led a double life,” said Detective Superintendent Keith Garwood, who is heading the investigation. “On one hand he was the much-loved son known as Abdula, with a family living thousands of miles away, and on the other, a businessman called Mr Wahib, trying to make a living as a faith healer within the Muslim community.”

Det Supt Garwood said two of Jabbi’s brothers were expected to come to Britain to identify the body but he was anxious to proceed as speedily as possible with the investigation and had therefore taken the decision to name the victim.

The dead man’s business card promised that “Nobody can beat Mr Wahib!!!” It went on to assure potential clients that “all your problems will be solved forever and all your wishes will be fulfilled in seven days guaranteed”. Among the problems, Mr Wahib promised to solve were sexual impotence, exams, anything concerning business or finance, depression and “domestic problems regarding husband and wife”. He described himself on his card as “guru, psychic, holyman or spiritual healer” and guaranteed to break “magic and evil spirits” in 48 hours. He claimed that “if… you are fully disheartened with everyone else, then ring Mr Wahib immediately”. He also promised to help those who were “separated from your loved one”.

“We know that he worked from a flat in Bury Park Road and advertised his services with a business card in which he claimed he could break magic spells and ward off evil spirits,” said Det Supt Garwood. “But we believe he lived elsewhere and we are now appealing to the public to tell us if he was your neighbour. Did he rent a room or a flat from you? Where did he shop, did he buy food from a local corner store or nearby supermarket? It is vital that we piece together every aspect of his life so that we can begin to establish a motive for his killing.”

The body of Jabbi, who had been murdered in what police described as an “almost ritualistic” fashion, because the method used was so violent, was found in a car park by a man cycling home from a night shift on April 29. He was wearing a black shirt and jeans with tracksuit trousers underneath, and had bare feet.

The police, who believe he was murdered elsewhere, said yesterday they were anxious to trace anyone who may have used his services, including those who might have been unhappy about the results. One line of inquiry is that he was killed by an angry client.

A Bedfordshire police spokeswoman said yesterday that initial reports that Jabbi had been killed in a ritualistic or sacrificial way were inaccurate and were based on a misunderstanding of an earlier police briefing. She said that it was not clear whether Jabbi had lived in Luton or used it as a business address.

The dead man is believed to have advertised in the past with the now closed London-based West Africa magazine. A former staff member said yesterday he recalled advertisements promising to counter evil spirits which had been placed by a Mr Wahib. He said the magazine had taken other similar ads after pressure from readers seeking faith healers. He said there was a large market for such healers.

It is understood that Jabbi had residential status in France but had moved to England. The Gambian high commission in London said it had been unaware of his presence in Britain until informed by the police.

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more cult news articlemore religion news Categories: UK
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine