Tunisian Grandmother Dies During Exorcism in Lyon
Lyon, France
A seventy-two-year-old woman of Tunisian origin died on Tuesday in Lyon after being subjected to what police describe as a violent exorcism ritual carried out in a private apartment. Three people, including a self-proclaimed spiritual healer, have been taken into custody.
A ritual turned fatal
According to police sources, emergency services were called to an apartment in the city’s 7ᵉ arrondissement after neighbours heard loud chanting, cries, and what sounded like a struggle. When firefighters entered the premises, they found the elderly woman lying unconscious on the floor, surrounded by burning candles, religious texts, and bowls of water.
Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Croix-Rousse hospital. Early forensic findings suggest death by asphyxiation, consistent with being restrained during the ritual.
The healer and the family
Investigators say the ritual was led by a 27-year-old man who claimed to practise “désenvoûtement” — a North-African form of spiritual cleansing intended to drive out evil spirits. He told police that the family had asked him to “free the grandmother from the devil’s grip.”
Also arrested were two female relatives who allegedly helped restrain the victim during the ceremony. All three face preliminary charges of voluntary violence resulting in death without intent to kill and unlawful confinement.
Community shock
The death has caused outrage and grief within Lyon’s Tunisian community. Religious leaders condemned the practice, stressing that Islam forbids any ritual endangering human life.
“What happened is not faith, it is ignorance,” said Imam Abdelkader Ben Ali of the Grande Mosquée de Lyon. “Deliverance should come through prayer, not violence.”
Neighbourhood associations described the case as “deeply troubling,” warning of the dangers posed by untrained spiritual healers exploiting vulnerable families.
Legal investigation
A judicial inquiry has been opened under the supervision of the Lyon public prosecutor’s office. Detectives are examining whether the suspects acted with intent, whether the victim’s consent was given, and what role cultural beliefs played in the tragedy.
Authorities emphasised that French law does not recognise any exemption for rituals that cause physical harm, regardless of spiritual motive.
Broader concerns
The case has revived debate in France about illegal exorcisms and so-called faith healers operating outside established religious institutions. Social services have called for increased education within immigrant communities about mental-health care and the dangers of “deliverance” practices.
As of this week, the suspects remain in custody pending formal charges. The victim’s family has requested privacy as funeral arrangements are made.
