Editorial note: The story describes sexual violence in a ritual context. Reader discretion is advised.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – A Gwinnett County man who identifies as a “witch doctor” was found guilty on Tuesday of multiple sex crimes by a Georgia jury. The conviction was announced via Facebook on Wednesday by the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.
Hassan Shalgheen, 45, received a life sentence following his conviction for rape, false imprisonment, theft by taking, sexual battery, and battery.
Shalgheen was apprehended early last year at his residence in Duluth, situated just northeast of Atlanta, after a woman reported that he had sexually assaulted her.
According to the police, the victim had initiated contact with Shalgheen through social media to arrange a ritual with the intention of being “cleansed.” Shalgheen reported that he was to perform a “healing ritual to remove evil spirits” on February 3, 2023. Shalgheen said the ritual would last three hours.
The victim sent a deposit and informed him of her intention to send additional funds over the next 30 days.
Editorial Note: The term “witch doctor” is colloquially used to refer to individuals in various cultures who are believed to possess supernatural or spiritual healing abilities. These individuals may use rituals, herbs, chants, or other traditional practices to address physical or spiritual ailments. It’s important to note that the term can carry different meanings and connotations depending on the cultural context.
In some cultures, a witch doctor may be considered a respected healer or spiritual leader, while in others, the term might be used in a more pejorative manner to describe someone practicing superstition or perceived as a charlatan. The practices associated with witch doctors vary widely and can include elements of traditional medicine, spirituality, and magic.
According to Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson, Shalgheen directed the victim to come alone, don a white robe, and ensure she was not menstruating. Court records also noted that Shalgheen falsely conveyed to the victim that others would be present during the spiritual cleansing ritual at his apartment.
Hassan Shalgheen (Duluth Police Department)
Upon arriving, Shalgheen provided a white robe to the victim, who reportedly also noted that she observed a visible firearm.
After observing the situation, the victim requested to reschedule the cleansing. Despite her plea, Shalgheen declined, stating he had imminent plans to travel to Texas and insisted that the “cleansing” proceed immediately.
“Out of fear, and remembering that he had a gun, the woman eventually agreed to undress on her own,” according to prosecutors. Shalgheen then reportedly forced himself on her and raped her twice.
“Shalgheen wore a condom during each of these acts,” wrote the district attorney, “and he disposed of them in a trashcan while telling [the victim] that they would later be burned as part of the ritual.”
Reports said Shalgheen charged $1,500 for the cleansing. The victim was instructed to send $300 before the ritual and another $300 after the assault.
The prosecution noted the sensational nature of the story had attracted media attention. “There was some news stories about it because of the headline that the defendant was a witch doctor or a medicine man,” they said, “and the news did run stories.”
Following media coverage of the case, six other victims reached out to Duluth police and recounted comparable experiences with Shalgheen, according to Austin-Gatson.
via Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office [Facebook]
The subsequent victims that came forward told of similar experiences. “[I] and Shalgheen met as coworkers at a cookware company,” one victim said, “and Shalgheen introduced himself as an astrologist and numerologist.” He advised the victim that “she needed a spiritual cleansing to both remove demons and to remedy certain health issues.”
He brought her to a motel, where he sexually assaulted her. When she told him to stop, he claimed that “it was part of the ritual and that he had become a spirit who was penetrating her.” When the ritual was over, Shalgheen instructed the victim not to tell anyone about the cleansing; she said that she had been too afraid to report the crime.
Another victim said that she “paid Shalgheen for a spiritual cleansing service, and Shalgheen drove to her home in Texas. Shalgheen used incense and oils during the cleansing ritual,” and then, as with the others, sexually assaulted her. She came forward after hearing the news stories of his arrest, now understanding she had been “manipulated and intimidated” by Shalgheen.
Two of these victims provided testimony during the trial, which commenced on February 26 and concluded on Tuesday morning. The jury deliberated for nearly a day and a half, as reported by Austin-Gatson.
“We encourage people who have experienced such heinous crimes to come forward and we will get justice,” said Austin-Gatson. “We thank the team that worked on this case, and we thank the jury for returning a conviction.
“Victims,” she concluded, “should not have to feel like they are alone when dealing with this type of crime.”
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