Documentary record Bound by Fear
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Conviction Hindu and Hindu-derived contexts The Hague, Netherlands · 2023

Netherlands: Hindu priest convicted of sexually abusing a woman during a healing ritual

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

Hindu priest offering ritual healing

Organization

No organization assigned

Spiritual nexus

The victim sought the priest's help specifically for his claimed ritual-healing power, and the abuse occurred during the ritual itself, with the priest explicitly invoking that authority to forbid her refusal.

  • Spiritual healing or treatment
  • Ritual, oath, or initiation

Evidence structure

Proceedings

  1. Date in cited record · trial conviction

    Rechtbank Den Haag, Netherlands. The Hague district court sentenced the 77-year-old priest to 18 months' imprisonment, six of them suspended, for sexually abusing a woman during a ritual in her home in May 2020. The woman had sought his help for health complaints. During the second treatment visit he touched her breasts and penetrated her, telling her not to refuse. He also received a three-year professional ban and was ordered to pay 7,500 euros in damages.

Documented coercion mechanisms

  • ritual healing authority; explicit instruction to the victim during the ritual not to refuse

Primary record

Sources

national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report NOS, 'Hindoepriester (77) de cel in voor misbruik vrouw bij ritueel.' Dutch: reports the sentence, ritual context and professional ban. English gloss: 'Hindu priest (77) jailed for abusing woman during ritual.'

Primary national-broadcaster report on the verdict.

national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report Omroep West, 'Priester misbruikt vrouw bij ritueel en wordt veroordeeld.' Dutch: regional-broadcaster report with fuller facts including the sentence and damages. English gloss: 'Priest abuses woman during ritual and is convicted.'

Corroborating regional-press report with fuller factual detail.

Related record

Related cases · Hindu and Hindu-derived contexts

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