Distinguishing incised wounds in asylum seekers as ritual scarification or torture: a cross road between physical and cultural anthropology

Beating is the most common method to torture. But it appears that the use of sharp-edged weapon is the main method that leaves scars. Such weapons are used in four different ways; self-harming, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments (CIDT) and ritual scarifications. In order to analyze the previously mentioned topic, we proposed two insights of the issue: one related to the medico – legal field and the other one pertaining to cultural anthropology. This study aims to determine if lesions due to ritual scarifications can be distinguished from the other type of incised wounds. The medical report of 115 political refugees and asylum seekers from the Medico-Legal Institute of Milan (Italy) have been studied. A dataset on Excel (Microsoft) has been created to understand the circumstances the number, and the localization of their scars due to sharp-edged weapons. From the 115 victims, 45.2% showed incised wounds; 14.7% showed signs of torture; 23.4% presented CIDT evidences. Finally, two other categories were represented in the sample: ritual scarification, counting 6 cases and two individuals who reported self – harming. The African continent is over-represented. It appears that the scarification process shows a pattern. The lesions for some cases can be distinguished from self-harm, torture and CIDT. Scarifications are made for social, medical, religious or magical purposes. Problems are raised when cases of alleged torture show physical lesions that fit with patterns of ritual scarifications. Cultural and social backgrounds play then an important role during medico-legal visits. Ritual scarifications are still relatively practiced among African countries. Only a trend for such lesions can be identified. Knowing all type of scarifications and being able to read them can be a huge step for the medico-legal identification.