A mother in the small French town of Mantes-la-Ville has been accused of having "excessively force-fed" her 11-month-old son to death via a method commonly practiced in Africa.
The suspected killer, whose identity has not been released, was subsequently charged with manslaughter.
According to Le Parisien, the baby suffocated to death on November 25, 2023 while being force-fed in the bathroom of the family home in the town 50 kilometers west of Paris. When authorities arrived, they discovered the baby naked in a bucket.
An investigation ensued, and it wasn't until January 16 that the mother was arrested and taken into custody.
She denied any wrongdoing, but the autopsy revealed that her baby had died as the result of force-feeding. No other forms of abuse were detected.
Authorities believe that she was engaging in a traditional practice of feeding children until their bodies physically can not handle any more food, which is believed by those who partake to make them stronger.
According to Deutsche Welle, the practice is most commonly found in West Africa.
Gloria Dwomoh, 31, of Walthamstow, London allegedly force-fed her 10-month old solid food for months before she eventually died from pneumonia due to blockage of her lungs.
As the BBC reports, she was sentenced to three years in prison.
The suspected killer, whose identity has not been released, was subsequently charged with manslaughter.
According to Le Parisien, the baby suffocated to death on November 25, 2023 while being force-fed in the bathroom of the family home in the town 50 kilometers west of Paris. When authorities arrived, they discovered the baby naked in a bucket.
An investigation ensued, and it wasn't until January 16 that the mother was arrested and taken into custody.
She denied any wrongdoing, but the autopsy revealed that her baby had died as the result of force-feeding. No other forms of abuse were detected.
Authorities believe that she was engaging in a traditional practice of feeding children until their bodies physically can not handle any more food, which is believed by those who partake to make them stronger.
According to Deutsche Welle, the practice is most commonly found in West Africa.
"The woman positions the child between her legs and uses one hand to block the child's nose," Nigerian professor Ignatius Onimawo told the outlet. "The child has no option but to open its mouth. Then porridge is poured into the child's mouth, forcing it to swallow."
"The practice is dreadful and has, on numerous occasions, led to the death of children here in Nigeria," Onimawo added.
While it has typically not made its way north to Europe, such rituals are practiced in certain communities with roots in Africa.
Gloria Dwomoh, 31, of Walthamstow, London allegedly force-fed her 10-month old solid food for months before she eventually died from pneumonia due to blockage of her lungs.
As the BBC reports, she was sentenced to three years in prison.
