'Butt Naked' war criminal now a priest
The West Australian November 4, 2013, 9:03 am
'Butt Naked' war criminal now a priest
A self-confessed Liberian war criminal responsible for the deaths of more than 20,000 people has become a priest.
Mass murderer Joshua Milton Blahyi became famous using the name "General Butt Naked", earning the tag because he used to run into battle wearing nothing but sneakers. He thought it made him invincible
Speigel Online reports that Blahyi, 42, was a cannibal who practised human sacrifice on infants to earn himself protection during battle during the First Liberian Civil War in the early 1990s. He recruited child soldiers, made them hack other people to pieces and ate the live hearts of his enemies.
Joshua Milton Blahyi, known as 'General Butt Naked', threatens a combatant with a knife. Photo: AP.
According to Spiegel, his soldiers used to bet on whether a pregnant woman was carrying a boy or a girl before slitting open her belly to see who was right.
He was never punished because the International Criminal Court was only founded in 2002 and had no jurisdiction over atrocities that occurred before then, according to Spiegel.
Joshua Milton Blahyi preaches to a congregation after his reform to become a priest. Photo: AP.
Blahyi is now a priest who goes to chess club every Saturday. He now calls himself Joshua, after the biblical successor to Moses. He preaches the Word of God. He has built a mission for former child soldiers he finds in the streets, and he gives them food and clothing. He has adopted three children, Spiegel says.
"I believe that God wishes to use me as a sign. No matter how far a person goes, he has the potential to change," he said. "For my faith. I was told that I should tell the truth, and the truth will set me free."
