HIV-infected participant in traditional deflowering rituals arrested in Malawi

The authorities of the African country of Malawi have arrested a man named Eric Aniva, who told the media in an interview that he deprives underage girls of virginity for money. This practice is traditional in remote areas in southern Malawi.

The police said that Aniva was charged with molestation on multiple counts.

The arrest was personally authorized by President Peter Mutharika, reports Associated Press. Mutharika said that committing such crimes under the pretext of traditional culture is unacceptable.

In addition, the president allowed Aniva to be charged with additional charges due to the fact that he, by his own admission, is a carrier of HIV and did not use contraceptives.

• In July 2016, the BBC website published an article about Erik Aniva. He calls himself a "hyena" - a man who, according to local customs, deprives girls of their virginity after their first menstruation for money. This rite is considered by the inhabitants of Malawi to be "cleansing". The services of "hyenas" are also used by adult women - for example, those who have lost their husbands or had an abortion. The "hyena" is paid from 4 to 7 dollars, the publication says.
• Aniva has at least five children and two wives, one of whom used his services after the death of her previous husband. When asked by a journalist if he wants his daughter to go through the ceremony, Aniva replied that he "cannot allow this" and "is fighting to end the criminal practice."
• In an interview with reporters, Aniva admitted that he was a carrier of HIV. He doesn't tell the girls' parents who hire him. According to Aniva's calculations, he had sex with more than a hundred girls and women in all the time.
• The UN estimates that there are about one million HIV carriers in Malawi. In total, about 15 million people live in the country.