Two Tanzanian sisters with albinism granted asylum in the U.S.

Two teenage sisters from Tanzania who are living with albinism have been granted asylum in the U.S. with help from students at the USC Gould School of Law.

The sisters, Tindi Mashamba and Bibiana Mashamba have been in the U.S. to allow Bibiana to be fitted with a prosthetic leg after a harrowing experience, in which attackers hacked off her leg and fingers.

According to the Citizen, the sisters were attacked in Mwanza region in 2009, and Bibiana escaped death by a whisker. Bibiana was 10 years when she went through the ordeal. The attackers hacked Bibiana’s right leg and two fingers of her right arm were chopped off,  Tindi fortunately escaped the attack. The two were reportedly rescued former MP Al-Shaynaa Kwegyir.

Read: PICS: Tanzanian children with albinism receive prosthetic limbs in US

People with albinism have suffered persecution and discrimination in Tanzania over the past few year. The prevailing attitudes perpetrated by some witchdoctors that body parts of people with albinism bring good luck and wealth have been blamed for the attacks.

The Tanzanian government has publicly condemned the persecution of people with albinism, putting in place various measures to protect those at risk of attacks. Last year, the government banned witchdoctors in the country in a bid to protect persons with albinism in a bid to stop the attacks on them.

While the government’s action is commendable, the measures have been inadequate to prevent attacks and allay fears of the targeted social group. Persons with albinism live in fear of attacks, hence the decision by the two sisters from Tanzania to seek asylum because of the persecution they have endured and still fear because of albinism.