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Document #1260891
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (Author)
In response to your above request we may provide you with the following information:
When was the mallah religion founded and by whom? How many adepts does this religion have?
According to a discussion of the book “Afrique: le choc des médecines. Chantilly, octobre 1993”, published on the website of “Anthropologie médicale appliquée au développement et à la santé” (AMADES), in 1982, two Catholic women in Douala, Mallah and Marie-Lumière, declared that they were directly inspired by a vision of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Since, they had received between 6.000 and 10.000 persons per week (sick people, pregnant women, youths and others) who took part in celebrations and healing sessions. (Amades, without date)
In a query response of 5 December 2003, the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) cites an article of “La Nouvelle Expression” of 10 April 2002, saying that Julienne Yagaka, also called “Ma’alah” had declared herself a priestess over 20 years ago and has since gained considerable influence in Douala’s Bepanda neighbourhood. The sect had over 10.000 followers and many divorces, quarrels and even assassinations had been attributed to Ms. Yagaka’s influence. The priestess had been excommunicated by the Archbishop of Douala, Christian Tumi (IRB, 5 December 2003). According to “Le Messager” of 3 May 2002 the members of the sect are said to follow her blindly and to even commit human sacrifice in her name (Le Messager, 3 May 2002).
“A globe of witnesses” (AGW) also cites an article of “La Nouvelle Expression”, saying that Maalah gained membership primarily in the suburbs of Douala. More than 70% of its membership was under forty and illiterate. (AGW, without date)
Is the mallah religion still forbidden in Cameroon? Reasons for it being banned by the authorities?
According to the latest human rights report of the US Department of State (USDOS), dated 25 February 2004, the April 2002 government ban of the Ma’alah, a nontraditional religious body that allegedly was involved in ritual killings, remained in effect during the year (USDOS 25 February 2004, Section 2.c.). The US Department of State reports that the Ma’alah group was banned following the March 25, 2002, death of the 6-year old girl Manuella Cynthia Selam Tiave whose mother and other members of the religious group had tortured her to death. The alleged purpose of the "session" was to follow the prescription of the sect’s goddess and rid the girl of a demon that possessed her soul. The press review of the French embassy in Cameroon refers to an article of “Une de Mutations” of 9 April 2002 stating that the infanticide which was attributed to the influence of the priestess and founder of the sect was committed in the Nylon neighbourhood of Douala (Ambassade de France au Cameroun, Revue de presse du 8 au 12 avril 2002, “société”; see also AGW, without date).
Both the Government and the girl’s father had since sued the mother and her accomplices, according to the US Department of State. At the end of the period covered by the USDOS Religious Freedom Report 2003, court action was still pending (USDOS, 18 December 2003, Section II, “Restrictions on Religious Freedom”; USDOS, 31 March 2003, Section 2.c.; see also PANA 9 April 2002).
The Panafrican News Agency states in an article of 10 April 2002 that the Cameroonian authorities have issued an arrest warrant against the sect’s priestess, Marie Yagaka, who was believed to be living in Europe (PANA 10 April 2002).
What happened after this religion was banned by the authorities? Were there protests? Where did they occur? What measures did the authorities take against participants at the manifests?
In May 2002, the Cameroon newspaper “Le Messager” reported on a police raid in Bepanda quarter in Douala which was directed against the adherents of Mallah. The police was reported to have forcibly disrupted the prayers of Mallah, arrested dozens of adherents, including her husband Yagaka Gabriel, a sister and a child of the “prophet” who herself was in the United States at the time. Those who tried to resist an arrest by the police were chastised and dragged through the mud. Caramba, the right hand of Mallah, was severely beaten. When the group convened the next day for the Tuesday prayers, dedicated to small children, the police dissolved the assembly again, arresting a number of people, including a pregnant woman. However, after having promised not to return to the “prophetess” and barely out of prison, dozens of Mallah’s followers convened again for the Wednesday prayers, dedicated to pregnant women. In the meantime, the inhabitants of the quarter have announced they would chase away the Mallah secte. (Le Messager 3 May 2002)
What kind of rituals do the members of this movement practice, how do they pray, where do they pray, how does the church where they pray look like?
The newspaper “Le Messager” mentions “grand prayers” (« grande prière ») that take place on Tuesdays and are dedicated to small children and also reports on a “grand prayer” on a Wednesday that was dedicated to pregnant women. (Le Messager 3 May 2002)
No futher information regarding the rituals and prayers performed by the group could be found among the sources consulted by ACCORD.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the ACCORD within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
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