MUGOTO, ZAMBIA 38-year-old man was dragged out of his home by his neighbors, tied to a tree, and brutally whipped with livestock tools. Locals were outraged after it was revealed that he had been in a long-term romantic relationship with a 16-year-old girl, and they decided to take justice into their own hands. Although he had not broken any laws, since the legal age of consent in Zambia is 16, the community viewed the large age gap as immoral and labeled him a pedophile. During the beating, he cried in pain, begged for mercy, and called out to his deceased father.

Every individual and community may have different moral boundaries. That is exactly why laws exist – to represent a set of moral limits agreed upon by the people of a country. Never take justice into your own hands. Anyone who unlawfully restrains someone’s freedom or causes physical harm can face serious punishment under the state justice system.