"Harry's Law," Features Albinos from Tanzania Seeking Asylum

On February 28^th, 2011, the television series, "Harry's Law," on NBC at ten p.m. featured a shocking story about four Albino young people seeking asylum in the United States from Tanzania, their home country. These four Albino young people claim they urgently needed asylum because in Tanzania, Albinos are hunted, maimed and slaughtered for their body extremities. Albino body parts are considered good-luck, sold to shamans or witch doctors for healing and potion rituals. This unbelievable slaughter is occurring in Tanzania and Burundi today.

On the show, "Harry's Law," Harriet Korn, played by Kathy Bates, is a no hold bars lawyer for the underprivileged and agrees to co-counsel this case with a fellow lawyer, Tommy Jefferson. Tommy Jefferson requires her assistance because he has difficulty dealing with four young Albino people, can't even look in their eyes because he has a problem dealing with people suffering indignities.

"Harry's Law," deals with this poignant subject realistically, dealing with the legal issues of people seeking asylum in this country and deportation centers. "Harry's Law," also deals with the disorder Albinism, using four actors who are diagnosed with the disorder in real life. In this fiction case the justice system decides they have enough problems dealing with their own countries injustices and can't allow asylum because of the Albino young people's fears towards being maimed or slaughtered. The four young people are remanded to a detention center with intent for deportation back to Tanzania. Harriet promises to appeal their case, and Tommy comes out of his comfort zone to shake the hand of Samuel, the Albino young people's group leader.

Albinism is a genetic disorder where a person or animal has altered genes that don't produce pigment/melanin, giving the person a ghostly appearance. It affects all races. Hair, eyes and skin, or fur, scales and feathers are void of color. They risk high rates of skin cancer and blindness due to their skin having no protection because of lack of melanin.

People affected with Albinism are stigmatized and socially segregated due to their physical appearance. In the United States there are still people who look at physical differences with prejudice, but Albinos are more likely attacked in underdeveloped countries like Tanzania.

In Tanzania there is a high population of Albinos, more than any other place in the world, due to a high rate of genetic mutations, possibly from years of inbreeding. Hunters seek out Albino people, hacking off their arms and legs to sell. Right legs go for $2000. Albino hair is used by fisherman, tied to fishing lines to assure a good catch. Miners use Albino flesh to assure in finding gold. Shamans, natural healers and witch doctors, use Albino body parts for their potions, herbal medicine, and to increase their wealth by selling them to customers. Albinos once maimed are left to die.

Due to the poor state of Tanzania with lack of education, people are turning to any means to support their families. This includes hunting Albinos. Albinos are terrified and seek refuge in their country and in the Untied States for safety. The Tanzanian government insists they don't support the practice and are doing everything to stop and prosecute the culprits. The true issue is that it is nearly impossible to catch and prosecute the culprits because of surviving victims and their families fearful of retaliation, and the obvious lag in their judicial system.

I applaud, "Harry's Law," for bringing to the viewers this horrific issue affecting the Albino population in Tanzania, and for their NBC website offering further information about Albinism and their plight.

To find out further information and view videos on Albinism and, the television show, "Harry's Law," please click on their website link below.

http://www.nbc.com/harrys-law/

To find out more about the crisis with the Albino population in Tanzania, please click on the website link below.

http://www.handofafricafoundation.com/wordpress/tanzania-albino-centre/