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Mass hysteria?

This whole throwing fits and going berserk business in the Makunudhoo School is becoming utterly ridiculous. It has been a month since it was first reported and apparently things have now escalated into becoming a full-on circus complete with clowns and flying elephants. More kids are apparently joining the madness by the day while the health authorities and the government at large seems to have ignored it for the most part.

The fanditha men who are being imported into the island by the worried parents to bring an end to this "supernatural" problem are probably having the time of their life. It is absolutely mad that in this day in age, people could forgo rationality and scientific understanding to attempt to solve the afflictions by letting fanditha practitioners chant and perform silly rituals around an island and go about cutting down trees in the belief that they harbour Jinns. The mentality of attributing anything even slightly mysterious or unexplainable as something within a supernatural realm is self-defeating, non-explanatory and should have been left behind in the past centuries of ignorance. I find it especially amusing that these Jinns always seem to have a knack for stirring a total ruckus in human societies by engaging in petty, retarded behaviour like taking "possession" of a person for "revenge". Then again, all non-existent imaginary constructs have their own unique quirks.

Edit (17/05/2008):
Jinns are mythical creatures lacking evidence and scientific validation. This fact should not be taken lightly because:
a) the role of such a priori beliefs in making people susceptible to and triggering hysteria has been noted in research,
b) the "treatment" being pushed by fanditha men and priests/imams involves reinforcement of those very beliefs that set it off and that has been noted to enhance the outbreaks.
c) the immediate attribution to illnesses to the supernatural delays/avoids proper medical diagnosis in favour of meaningless rituals, which is especially worrying if the illness were to be due to or a symptom of a serious medical condition.

Edit (11/05/2008):
Some interesting papers on the matter:-
- Episodic Neurological Dysfunction Due to Mass Hysteria
- Epidemic Hysteria: A review of the Published Literature
- Possession "hysteria" in a Kenya Tribe
This entry was posted by Jaa on Saturday, May 10. 2008 at 06:10. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog.
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  1. And here dwelleth 300,000 invisible beings

    Most Maldivians are by now familiar with the drama unfolding in Makunudhoo. It has been on the news a lot and has been blogged about a lot but photos haven't been very forthcoming - well, except for a blurred image on Haveeru Daily and a photo stolen from

    Weblog: Jaa's Blog
    Tracked: May 18, 16:35

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  1. ajaaibu says:
    #1 2008-05-10 14:45 (Reply)

    Intresting.. but still I can't beleive about those creatures, may be because 1 child has told that all others are scared and feel like that.. I just can't beleive it,, and the mad parents... am mad !!!!! ammad

  2. hmmm says:
    #2 2008-05-10 15:12 (Reply)

    This is what the so called medical experts have to say about this matter. No wonder why fear is gripping this nation of ours.( the person who gave this information said that it was taken straight from Dr. Mauroofs web site and it has been taken off the site now after people started criticizing) . What a loser.

    "Dr Mauroof spoke on the medical aspects of the matter. He said the opinion of the psychiatrists including Dr. Eswaran regarding the condition was that these were cases of Hysterical Conversion Disorder. Elaborating on the condition he quoted from the medical text which said: “This condition is not considered under voluntary control and, after appropriate medical evaluation, cannot be explained by any physical disorder or known pathological mechanism.” Dr. Mauroof said that this is a modern and scientific way of conceding that the condition is spiritual rather than physical and is in the realm of the unknown. The medical treatment for the condition include anxiolytics like Alprazolam or sedatives like Diazepam, which have definite side effects. But there is a treatment which doesn’t have any ill effects and that is seeking remedy and guidance from the Holy Qur’an. “The Qur’an doesn’t have any side effects.” He said.
    Sheikh Ilyas gave a characteristically powerful speech, elaborating on the spiritual aspects. He educated the gathering on the correct Islamic methodology of dealing with such problems and asked them to be wary of those who resort to incorrect methods which endanger one’s Thauheed. He assured that there was no need to resort to irrational measures like demolishing the school building or cut down the banyan tree in the school ground as has been insinuated by some soothsayers.
    There was a separate meeting with the parents of the affected children in which their doubts were cleared by the sheikh. They were encouraged to rely on Allah Subhanhu Wata’la firmly, improve their Iman and practise the “Rugya” or protective measures proven from the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wasallam). Thankful officials of the island were optimistic that the work of the Adhaalat officials will have a good influence and will help the people to get over the problem, insha-allah."

    HAHAHAHA. I cant stop laughing. Manipulating and taking advantage of innocent people. These morons.


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