On
3rd Degree this Tuesday:
Episode: Falaqa: Unregistered Drug Rehabilitation Centres In Cape Town
Broadcast date: 8 July, 2008 at 20h00
Channel: e.tv
Repeated: 21h00 on the eNews Channel
3rd Degree investigates horrifying allegations of torture at unregistered drug rehabilitation centres in Cape Town. The show received stories of recovering addicts strapped down with horse shackles while having their feet repeatedly beaten with a belt.
One young man describes how he received 200 lashes and then had to crawl around on his hands and knees because he was in such pain. Despite the fact that his feet were septic and swollen, he received no medical care.
This old Islamic custom of Falaqa is being meted out as punishment for addicts who break the rules at these centres, despite the Muslim Judicial Council saying the practice is unacceptable.
3rd Degree goes inside some of these rehabs to find out what's going on. While the directors deny that Falaqa is being used, the evidence is overwhelming: witnesses and victims have come forward to tell their stories and show their scars.
The Department of Social Development says it is investigating but so far, no centres have been shut down. Drug use among the youth in the Western Cape is out of control. Parents are desperate and don’t know where to turn. Established drug rehabs are expensive and state facilities are difficult to get into at short notice so families are turning to unorthodox methods in search of a cure.
Are unscrupulous people with no qualifications taking advantage of a desperate situation in order to make money? Are the poor being exploited because they have no other choices? 3rd Degree investigates.
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