Wednesday, November 23, 2011
FBI arrests 7 in Amish haircut attacks in Ohio
BERGHOLZ, Ohio (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested seven men in Ohio on federal hate crime charges in hair-cutting attacks against the Amish.
Authorities arrested the men this morning at their compound in eastern Ohio. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Cleveland says the men are expected to be arraigned later today.
Authorities say members of a breakaway Amish group forcefully cut the beards and hair of several Amish men and women in recent months. Among those arrested are the breakaway group’s leader and three of his sons.
Cutting the hair is a highly offensive act to the Amish, who believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry.