Mereja.Forum

Here are documented historical and modern cases where amputation of hands (usually as punishment or to terrorize populations) has occurred during armed conflicts or under occupying/rebel forces:

Sierra Leone – Civil War (1991–2002) – Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – Thousands of hands amputated, especially in 1999 (“long sleeves” or “short sleeves” choice)

• Liberia – First & Second Civil Wars (1989–2003) – Various factions (NPFL, LURD, etc.) – Hand and arm amputations used as punishment/intimidation

• Democratic Republic of the Congo – Second Congo War (1998–2003) & ongoing conflicts – Mai-Mai and other rebel groups – Hand amputations in eastern DRC for theft or collaboration


Semetic Brutality

• Yemen – Civil War (2014–present) – Houthi authorities – Rare hand amputations and crucifixions in Houthi-controlled areas


• Somalia – Civil War (1991–present) – Al-Shabaab – Regular public hand (and cross-) amputations for theft under Sharia in controlled areas


Sudan (Darfur) – Darfur conflict (2003–present) – Janjaweed militias – Some cases of hands/limbs cut off as punishment

• Afghanistan – Taliban rule (1996–2001) & 2021–present – Taliban – Public hand amputations for theft, resumed after 2021 takeover


• Syria – Civil War (2011–present) – Islamic State (ISIS) 2014–2019 – Frequent filmed public hand amputations in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, etc.

• Iraq – ISIS occupation (2014–2017) – Islamic State (ISIS) – Public hand amputations in Mosul and other held cities

• Saudi Arabia (war-related) – Yemen intervention & internal – Saudi government – Judicial hand amputations (some applied to captured Yemenis)

• Mali – Jihadist insurgency (2012–present) – Ansar Dine, MUJAO – Hand amputations in Gao and Timbuktu under 2012–2013 Sharia rule

• Nigeria – Boko Haram insurgency (2009–present) – Boko Haram – Sporadic hand amputations, especially 2014–2015

European Brutality

• Belgian Congo (historical) – 1885–1908 – Force Publique under King Leopold II – Tens of thousands of right hands severed for failing rubber quotas

Deuteronomy 25:12 gives a literal command to cut off a woman's hand as punishment for interfering in a fight by grabbing an opponent's genitals.

The Quran contains a verse, Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:38, that prescribes cutting the hands of male and female thieves as a punishment and a deterrent.

The warrior practice that does appear is the cutting off of male enemies’ genitals after killing them as proof of victory (similar to taking heads or ears in other cultures). These were then presented during the [deleted] ceremony or used to advance in the gadaa grades. Living castration is not part of the tradition.