October 15, 2011 6:21 PM

Hair attacks force Amish to seek outside help

Sam Mullet stands in front of his Bergholz, Ohio home on Monday. Oct. 10, 2011. The leader of a breakaway Amish group, Mullet said an attack on fellow Amish in which a man's beard was cut off was a religious issue stemming from long-standing resentment of his group's treatment.

Sam Mullet stands in front of his Bergholz, Ohio home on Monday. Oct. 10, 2011. The leader of a breakaway Amish group, Mullet said an attack on fellow Amish in which a man's beard was cut off was a religious issue stemming from long-standing resentment of his group's treatment. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

(AP) 

CARROLLTON, Ohio - Prosecutors in Ohio are continuing their investigation into hair-cutting attacks against several Amish people with assistance from members of the deeply private religious group.

It's unusual but not unheard of for the Amish to enlist the help of law enforcement.

The Amish believe they must be forgiving and often times that means handing out their own punishment and not reporting crimes to law enforcement.

Haircut attacks spotlight Ohio Amish community
4 arrested in U.S. Amish attack

Authorities in Ohio say the Amish turned to them because they didn't think the attacks could be stopped any other way.

Five men from a breakaway Amish group have been charged with forcefully cutting the beards and hair of several Amish men and women in recent weeks.

Beards are held in high esteem within in the Amish community. They're grown and kept long based on Biblical teachings.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment
by baronis October 18, 2011 2:01 PM EDT
This is reminiscent of when rednecks used to grab hippies off the streets and cut their hair. The same rednecks whose sons now sport long, greasy stringy hair.
Reply to this comment
by Jcdoyle4 October 16, 2011 12:10 PM EDT
The leader of the Amish beard-cutting gang is Sam Mullet? Someone should have seen this coming. http://******/r3t0DP
Reply to this comment
by Anotheryahoo October 16, 2011 11:03 AM EDT
All the long beard shows is that your closer to the primitive evolution of the hairy man ape. All that hair is a leftover from millions of years ago. Beards are nasty but then so is man.
Reply to this comment
by Transatlantique October 16, 2011 8:29 AM EDT
The beards are a form a vanity, shouldn't that be against god? I don't advocate doing this to the Amish, but at least it'll grow back. Its interesting, though, how the Jews forcibly mutilate the genitals of their own kind, denying them the right to a full range of sexuality, and yet no one bats an eye to that physical assault. That won't grow back and has even resulted in deaths. I suppose that's why 60% of Scandinavian and Russian Jews don't practice that horrible act. Americans of any kind seem to foster this kind of belligerent, self righteous, bully mentality that invades the rights of others. Its a simple rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Its all about taking responsibility for one's own pathological behaviour and asking, "how will this affect another?"
Reply to this comment
by AnnieDanny October 18, 2011 2:47 AM EDT
Are you complaining about circumcision? Wow, what a distorted view. Unbelievable.
by djseavy October 15, 2011 7:50 PM EDT
This is absolutely about as low as people can get. The Amish have never done anything to anybody; all they do is live their lives according to their beliefs. Frankly, considering they never use welfare, other government handouts, etc., they should be respected. They work hard and take care of their families. Far better group of people than some of the so-called modern society. I hope the perps are caught and get the book thrown at them.
Reply to this comment
by AnnieDanny October 18, 2011 2:45 AM EDT
It's not so innocent as you think. They can be very harsh and unreasonable with their own: it's called shunning.

And some of the Amish communities had some other problems that I won't even mention here, but I've read some hair-raising stories that are very hard to forget.

I can imagine that the break-away group has some interesting reasons for being so angry. I'd like to hear the other side of the story.

But these attacks aren't justified, IMO.
by jade84116 October 15, 2011 6:36 PM EDT
Biblical? That's a matter of interpretation. Besides, 1 Cor. 11 and all!
Reply to this comment
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • CBS News Mobile

  • CBS News for Android

    The CBS News app for Android smartphones offers breaking headlines and video as well as the latest from The Early Show, 60 Minutes and more.
    Learn more...