FBI Investigating Amish Violence

The FBI is investigating alleged violence by members of a breakaway Amish community in Ohio directed at other Amish. There are believed to have been a number of Amish-on-Amish incidents in recent years, carried out by about 30 men and women. But only one, in which a farmer was dragged from his house to have his beard cut off, has led to arrests. Amish do not shave or cut their hair, believing that it’s forbidden by the Bible, said Donald Kraybill, an expert who studies the religious minority. To forcibly lob off their locks is a direct insult to their identity, Kraybill said. Most Amish are reluctant to report crimes to the police, preferring to use religious tribunals. An FBI spokeswoman said agents are looking at all the incidents. Five men have been arrested and charged with kidnapping and burglary stemming from an incident at the home of Myron and Arlene Miller in early October in which the group of men pulled Myron out of the home by his beard, held him down, and cut off large portions of the beard. The perpetrators are believed to be followers of a breakaway Amish group led by Sam Mullet. Of the five that have been arrested, three are Mullet’s sons.