Attacks on people like me happen every time my country has an election

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Alfred LasteckOctober 25, 2025 at 01:03 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

In Tanzania, people with albinism face heightened fear and violence during election periods due to superstitions that their body parts can bring wealth or political success. Mariam Staford, a 42-year-old woman with albinism, recounts her terror as she prepares for upcoming elections on Wednesday. In 2008, during local election preparations, she was attacked and had both hands severed while five months pregnant; her unborn child did not survive. Such attacks intensify around election times due to heightened witchcraft beliefs. Staford now lives in Kilimanjaro region after relocating from Kagera, an epicenter of ritual killings of people with albinism.

Key Topics & Entities

Mariam Staford ×2100% Tanzania ×3100%

Keywords

albinism 100% election violence 90% tanzania 80% superstition 70% ritualistic killings 60% campaign violence 50% mariam staford 50% political influence 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.80

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Tanzania

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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albinism election violence tanzania superstition ritualistic killings campaign violence mariam staford political influence

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