U.S. Grants Asylum From Tanzania’s Treatment of Mental Illness, Calling it Torture

Tumaini Temu, whose breakdown following the death of his mother resulted in prolonged hospitalization, shackling, and beatings in his home of Tanzania, has been granted asylum under the U.S. Convention Against Torture.  “Throughout all his hospitalizations, the nurses referred to Mr. Temu as ‘mwenda wazimu (possessed by demons),'” the judge noted. “The record also shows that while binding Mr. Temu and bearing him with leather straps, the nurses at Muhimbili Hospital said on multiple occasions, ‘this is how we treat people who are mentally ill like you.’”

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