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rug

(82,333 posts)
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 04:44 PM Aug 2012

Amish beard-cutting: Shears cut symbol of manhood, expert says

By Rene Lynch
August 29, 2012, 1:28 p.m.

To an outsider, an Amish man's chest-length beard or an Amish woman's long locks might not appear all that remarkable. But they hold great religious significance to the Amish: They are symbols of one's devotion to God and to the Amish community.

That's why the head of an Amish splinter group and his followers are facing federal hate-crime charges in an unusual case playing out in Cleveland, Ohio.

Prosecutors have charged Sam Mullet Sr. with leading a band of 16 followers on a series of violent attacks targeting religious rivals: Defendants allegedly slashed off men's beards and hacked off at least one woman's hair. The assaults left victims shaken and in some cases, bloodied and battered.

Steve Nolt, a history professor at Goshen College in Indiana, and author of several books on Amish culture and history, told the Los Angeles Times that such forcible hair cutting is far more than a prank.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-amish-beard-cutting-20120829,0,2414485.story

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Amish beard-cutting: Shears cut symbol of manhood, expert says (Original Post) rug Aug 2012 OP
While I am not a fan of any religion, Drale Aug 2012 #1
As I understand it, "hate crime" is a modifier for other charges. cbayer Aug 2012 #2
They are, the federal hate crime statute. rug Aug 2012 #3
Turns out there is a photo... alp227 Aug 2012 #4
That's pretty vicious. It's no prank. rug Aug 2012 #5

Drale

(7,932 posts)
1. While I am not a fan of any religion,
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 04:59 PM
Aug 2012

I hope they are charged with more than a hate crime, like assault.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
2. As I understand it, "hate crime" is a modifier for other charges.
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 05:04 PM
Aug 2012

So you have to be charged with something, then it is determined whether to additionally charge it as a hate crime.

Rug probably knows more about this than I, though.

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