Klagenfurt court trial begins for man accused of attempted exorcism

A 29-year-old man is facing trial at the Klagenfurt Regional Court in Austria on charges of unlawful imprisonment following an attempted exorcism of his sister. The incident occurred in May and involved the 27-year-old victim, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

According to prosecutors, the defendant held his sister captive for approximately 20 hours. During this time, he allegedly restrained her using a belt and a cat leash, taped her mouth shut to prevent her from biting or spitting, and played a 90-minute video of Quranic verses to her. The victim, who experiences hallucinations and auditory disturbances, reportedly lost consciousness during the ordeal.

The defendant, an Austrian citizen of Egyptian descent, has denied the charges, claiming he acted at his sister's request. The prosecution emphasized that the victim's mental health condition prevented her from being able to consent to such treatment. The trial has been adjourned.