Secret world of Islamic exorcisms in the UK revealed as imam performs ritual causing woman to 'throw up evil spirits'
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A British imam has allowed cameras in to film him perform an 'exorcism' to rid a woman of evil spirits.
The ceremony was one of thousands carried out every year across Britain where imams rid men and women of evil spirits or "jinn" which they believe live inside them.
Imam Ayoub Tayeb says he has personally carried out around 3,000 in the last three years - equivalent to two or three a day, and performs them on Christians, sikhs, hindus and atheists as well as muslims.
In the video a young Muslim woman dressed a burqa and with her face covered is seeking help to rid her of spirits which she believes are caused by black magic.
She is seen repeatedly retching as if throwing up to get the 'evil spirit' out, before picking up what looks like an Ikea table to throw it across the room.
Imam Ayoub, holding the microphone, appears to spit or blow in her face in bid to calm her down, before she falls dramatically back on to the sofa.
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
He performs the "ruqyah" ritual on the woman at a mosque in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in front of the cameras in a bid to dispel myths about the practice.
The 29-year-old woman sought help claiming the curse was causing her a range of medical problems which she said conventional doctors could not cure.
She said her symptoms included vomiting, pain in the womb, insomnia, headaches and back-pain, and poor memory.
She also said she was easily angered and would scream for no reason.
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
In the video she can be seen rocking backwards and forwards as imam Ayoub Tayeb chants verses from the Quran to banish the demonic entity.
She can be heard panting and retching as the imam at the Masjid Mohammed mosque shouts deafeningly into a microphone at the jinni.
He can be heard repeating: "Can you find God, can you find him?"
As imam Ayoub shouts verses more aggressively, the woman, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, is seen fleeing to the other side of the couch.
She then screams out uncontrollably while thrashing around on a couch before picking up a nearby table.
At which point the imam spit spits holy water in her face to bring the jinn under control.
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
Imam Ayoub, originally from Kurdistan, said: "She has black magic and the jinn that brought the magic is also in love with her.
"But this is not real love as love does not cause pain and this Jinn has caused many ailments.
"The information about the magic was given by the jinn when I was speaking to it but it did not say who caused the magic."
"We only operate in the healing and helping to cure them from these evil practices - but magic practicing is widespread.
"A simple Google search would reveal how easy it is to buy or find a spell."
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
The patient in this video is now following a home treatment plan and said to be feeling better - with many of her symptoms having disappeared, according to the imam.
The exorcism is one of around 3,000 performed by 42-year-old imam Ayoub during the last three years.
As well as serving the community in Sheffield patients come from far afield as Germany, Norway, USA, Sweden and Iraq.
The imam said: "Most of our patients come from the Islamic faith.
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"However we have also helped Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and atheists - we do not differentiate between religions or non-religion.
"I treat unexplained illnesses that doctors cannot explain or cure such as period or menstrual issues or excessive behaviours such as gambling, drugs or alcohol.
"We use a diagnosis in a way similar to what you may find at a doctor's surgery.
"We list listing common symptoms in either jinn possession or magic and through those answers we can diagnose the problem by Allah's will."
Imam Ayoub learned his skills by watching others perform ruqyah and through reading.
He said: "I enjoy helping people - it is my passion and I enjoying serving God in this way.
"I like using the Quran to heal and witnessing the power of the Quran gives me satisfaction - to heal and see people healed.
"It can make me tired at times and very busy - continuous recitation can give me a sore throat ."
However the healer insists he has nothing to fear from the jinn.
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
(Image: SWNS - LEEDS SWNS.com)
He said: "I only fear God and God is more powerful than the jinn he created so I believe God will protect me.
"Jinn like to incite fear in humans buy they cannot attack me because I am not scared of them and God is on my side.
"I protect myself by reading morning and evening supplications.
"I pray five times a day with obligatory prayers and supplementary prayer and I also pray in the night when the world sleeps for God to protect me."
An exorcism takes roughly an hour to perform - with imam Ayoub charging a £60 fee which is used to fund the mosque.
However he insists no-one is turned away as the service is often provided for free to help people.