The Ayaidah tribe might not be as well-known as other Egyptian tribes, yet it is definitely one of the most intriguing. This is mainly attributed to the fact that its members are the only ones that still hold on to a practice known as the world’s most ancient lie detecting system, the “bisha’h.”
While Bedouin tribes both inside and outside Egypt are known for maintaining their own judicial system, in which they resolve disputes and penalize criminals through a bunch of customary laws, the “bisha’h” in particular is known to have died almost everywhere except in the Ayaidah tribe, based in the governorate of Ismailia in north-eastern Egypt.
“Bisha’h,” or trial by ordeal, is generally believed to date back to ancient Mesopotamia although several historical accounts assert it is originally Egyptian. It is used as a means of determining whether a suspect in a crime is innocent or guilty.
The ritual involves heating a metal spoon, ladle, or rod and making the suspect lick it in the presence of tribal representatives. If the suspect’s tongue blisters, he is guilty and the suitable verdict is issued and if it is left unscathed, he is innocent and set free.
Here is a video below courtesy of Deutsche Welle.
