Wolrd Religion

Seven young members of a satanic sect have gone on trial in Russia accused of four gruesome murders in which they "ritually sacrificed" their victims before cooking and eating parts of them.

The case is being held behind closed doors but local media say all seven defendants admit their guilt. They are officially charged with murder, theft and the desecration of human remains.

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The Zimbabwe-based Mudzimu Unoera Apostolic Faith has split into two factions with one group saying they will continue following the "Girl Jesus" because she resembles the late founder of the sect, Emmanuel Mudyiwa Dzangare.

The other faction is led by the sect's board of trustees and the two sides have been at each other's throats on who should use the shrine at Bretten Farm, Mazowe.

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South Australian police say they know where the leader of the Agape doomsday cult is hiding but are not ready to launch an arrest operation.

Det-Supt Jeffery said police had not spoken to Leo and that public safety had been the main priority for detectives so far in the investigation. He said police had no reason to believe that Leo or other wanted members would become violent.

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Australia should introduce anti-cult legislation similar to laws operating in France, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says.

"The current laws that we have just don't deal with issues of psychological manipulation, effectively brainwashing, the way that people are deceived into handing over their money to these cults," he said.

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