Seventeen captives were freed from what is being reported as a “gay addiction” torture clinic in Ecuador yesterday.
Union and Hope Clinic in Pisuli, which is located north of Quito, claims to treat alcohol and drug problems. Yesterday, police found 17 patients, one of whom was a 15-year-old boy, being held in inhumane conditions.
Many of the patients are reported as having been “barely alive.” They are believed to have been electrocuted and raped in attempts to “cure” them of “behavioral problems.”
One victim claims she was forced to stand barefoot in a shallow pool of dirty water that was rigged with an electrical charge.
“These people were being held against their will, overcrowded, in degrading, unhealthy conditions,” a justice official said, AFP reports. “They were sleeping on the floor. They had no sewer system.”
Last July, the Ecuadorian government acknowledged the existence of a network of as many as 80 unlicensed centers that specialize in treating addictions and homosexuality, where patients are regularly tortured.
One of the cases is that of a young woman named Zulema, who came forward last June and said she was placed in a clinic in Napo by her family to “cure” her of being a lesbian. She said that she was tortured at the facility and suffered prolonged physical and psychological attacks.
Seven people were arrested following yesterday’s raid. The 17 captives were taken to hospital for recovery.
Photo credit: FiscaliaEcuador.
2eo
This is the true face of religion. Never forget what they do when they really believe god is with them.
femonanon
I, still, can’t fathom that any human being gets joy by hurting another person. This story is making me sick to my stomach.
Hillers
They were raped as part of the effort to “cure” them?
The lack of logic of these vile homophobes at their horrific best.
hyhybt
@Hillers: It’s not logic; it’s just an excuse to rape.
What about the other 79?
mezzacanadese
The people who perpetrated these terrible crimes should suffer the same fate as their victims.
Kangol
Absolutely sickening and criminal that anyone would do this to another human being. The monsters behind this center and everyone else involved with it should be prosecuted and locked up for a very long time.
crazycorgi
I will not be surprised if it is ever revealed who the organizations are that started these “clinics” and that they are tied to the U.S. and the Catholic church.
Dev.C
Did they reveal the numbers of victims who possibly died?
beading_man
to 2eo this is not the face of religion, this is the face of evil. true religion would never do this. true religion is about the love of God for EVERYONE!!! I know that there are a lot of idiots out there who say they are doing God’s work by hating but it is just not so. they will be judged. I have been a gay christian for for over 40 years and have seen many changes in churches but i still believe in the MCC church.
2eo
@beading_man: True religion and belief in god has caused untold misery and pain for untold billions of people.
These people are the face of religion, they are literally doing the work laid out in holy books and accepted practice. They can’t get more concise in their application.
2eo
@beading_man: I don’t believe in the No true Scotsman fallacy.
hyhybt
Some people don’t notice the difference between religion and zealotry; others deliberately ignore it. It’s zealotry that leads to this sort of thing, whether based in religion or some other cause.
2eo
@hyhybt: Where are the none religious institutions carrying out this kind of “work” exactly?