Charities condemn UK religious TV shows promising cures by prayer
A number of extreme religious TV programmes broadcast on satellite TV in the UK have come under fire from charities for promising their viewers cures for life threatening illnesses through ‘prayers’.
One of these ‘dangerous’ shows, Miracle Hour, has been criticised by the African Health Policy Network putting lives at risk.
It is produced by the UK World Evangelical Trust in London which outputs its wares on Faith TV and came to attention of campaigners during a 4 January broadcast in which a caller with diabetes rang the show for help.
Bishop Simon Iheanacho instructed the caller to symbolically rest a hand on their leg and then intimated that he could cure the caller by uttering a few words down the phone line: "I cause diabetes to die in your body.
"I lose you and declare you set free from the power of diabetes. Thank you heavenly father for this miracle right now over your life in Jesus's name."
Commenting on the incident Kaikumba said: "The clip is worrying. Bishop Simon claims to have removed the illness from the caller, insinuating he has been cured."
"The pastor should have recommended the caller sought medical help."
In a statement UKWET said: "We are now reviewing our new programmes to make sure our standards meet good practice."