Problem

Pejorative accusations of ritual use of human blood

Other Names:
Blood libel
Incidence:

Examples of ritual murder of enemies and consumption of their blood (or other organs) are known from many cultures, and continue to be rumoured amongst some subcultures. For example, in 1840, a rumour spread in Syria that a priest, Father Toma, supposedly went to the Jewish Quarter of Damascus and never returned. The story was that the priest was slaughtered by a group of rabbis and other Jews. Not a drop of blood was spilled. It was collected, so the infamous "blood libel" story went, and used to make Passover matzoh. The "blood libel" story has been told over and over again through the years, with other victims, such as Arab children. The story is still told and continues to influence Arab perceptions of Jews.

Broader Problems:
Discriminatory myths
Narrower Problems:
Human sacrifice
Problem Type:
G: Very specific problems
Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST