Seven men belonging to the Amish commnity were arrested in the US State of Ohio last night.
They were responsible for attacks and violence on other members of their community.
Victims were forced to sleep in a chicken coop, and sexually abused. They were also humiliated as they had their beards and hair cut. Indeed, long hair and long beards are two very important religious symbols in their community.
The seven men formed a group whose leader was Samuel Mullet, a cruel and unscrupulous man.
Nowadays, Amish communities mostly live in North America.
They completely refuse our consumer society, they are different by choice. The more traditionnal groups are called "old order". They absorb their ancestors' knowhow and values. They move by cart, and use agricultural equipment pulled by horses. They refuse to use any electrical fittings, television, radio, computer, telephone or photographies as they regard worldliness as a way to be far from God.
Their way of life is centered on their families and religion. Men don't cut their beards once they marry and women have long hair, a symbol of beauty.
Their values are based on sharing, generosity, simplicity, manners, devotion, respect, assistance and peace.
For a few years, the number of Amish people has considerably increased, mostly because people want to live far away from a consumer society which frightens them.
The barbarous crimes denigrate the laws etablished by the Bible.
This hate crime was motivated by the leader Mullet, whose purpose was to send a message to the other members of the Amish community. He succeeded in manipulating a few members.
We can wonder what tolerance and peace really mean for them.
Also unconsidered submission of the men, who have faith in the power of their leader, is a part of the problem of this excess of violence in this community.