Amish Beard-Cutting Case: Ohio Residents Sentenced for Hate Crimes

In response to a religious dispute among members of the Amish community, Samuel Mullet, Sr.—the 66-year-old bishop of the Amish congregation in Bergholz, Ohio—directed his followers to forcibly cut the hair and beards of other members of the Amish faith.

Male and female victims, some elderly, were held against their will in their homes while scissors and horse shears were used to cut their hair and beards. Head and facial hair is religiously symbolic to the Amish—some of the male victims had been growing their beards for decades.

Mullet organized five attacks between September and November 2011. Local authorities filed state charges against him and others after the initial incidents, but the assaults continued. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office were called in, Sirohman said, because the attacks were escalating and because “everyone realized there were bigger issues involved.”

Source: FBI website

The in-fighting within religions today is getting ridiculous. I never thought I would see the FBI have a need to enter into an Amish dispute but alas the day has come. Samuel Mullet was sentenced to 15 years in a federal prison for hate crimes. What is wrong with this picture. I guess they are not above being hateful or having disputes but I never thought it would come to a case like this. Sad the state of our world is.

I can't resist....

A guy named MULLET forcibly cutting people's hair?


On a more serious note, that's gotta suck for those who take pride in their hair and beards.