In July, a court in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, sentenced a woman identified as Li and her elder daughter to a three-year suspended jail term following the accidental death of Li’s younger daughter, Xie, the South China Morning Post reported.
During a misguided “exorcism” ritual in December last year, the duo unintentionally caused Xie’s death by applying extreme pressure to her chest and forcing water down her throat.
Deeply influenced by cult-like superstitious beliefs, the family believed Xie was possessed by demons. While found guilty of negligent homicide, the court considered their remorse and cooperation, resulting in a four-year suspension of the sentence.
Descent Into Spiritual Paranoia
The ritual was the culmination of a long-term obsession with extreme spiritual and superstitious ideas that had taken root within the family. Li and her daughters reportedly lived in a state of constant mental distress, convinced that they were being hounded by demons and that their “souls had been sold.”
This isolation led the younger daughter, Xie, to believe she was possessed, eventually begging her mother and sister to perform an intervention. Instead of seeking professional psychiatric or medical help for what appeared to be a severe mental health crisis, the family turned to dangerous physical rituals that eventually turned fatal.
Harrowing Details Of The Ritual
Court proceedings detailed the aggressive nature of the “exorcism” performed by the mother and sister. To “expel” the perceived demons, they applied heavy force to Xie’s chest and poured large quantities of water down her throat to induce vomiting.
Shockingly, the victim reportedly claimed the ritual was “effective” at one point and urged them to continue. However, the next morning, other family members discovered Xie unresponsive with blood around her mouth. Medical workers pronounced her dead at the scene.
The Shenzhen Municipal People’s Procuratorate noted that although the defendants believed they were helping, their negligent actions directly resulted in the victim’s death.
Social Media Backlash
The case has sparked intense outrage and debate across Chinese social media, with many users questioning how such “silly and horrible” incidents can still occur in the modern era. Critics have called for stronger scientific education and public awareness campaigns to combat the persistent influence of cults and fringe superstitions.
One online commenter noted that cult believers are often “stubborn,” preferring to believe a demon was too strong rather than accepting the reality of a tragedy. The suspended sentences were granted after the court acknowledged that the mother and sister acted without malice and showed profound regret for their actions.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we are deeply saddened by this preventable loss of life, which serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extreme superstition and the lack of mental health awareness.
A home should be a sanctuary of safety, yet here, the very people meant to protect the victim became her assailants out of a misguided sense of “healing.”
We advocate for an environment where medical science and empathy replace irrational fear and paranoia. It is crucial to foster a society where families are educated to recognise mental distress and are guided toward professional help rather than harmful traditional rituals.
