• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. MENA
  4. ‘World’s dirtiest man’ dies at 94
MENA

‘World’s dirtiest man’ dies at 94

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 26 Oct 2022 11:07
  • 2 Shares

Amou Haji refused to wash for 60 years because he believed soap and water would make him sick.

  • Amou Haji
    Amou Haji, seen here smoking excrement

An Iranian who was unofficially dubbed the "world's dirtiest man" after not showering for 60 years died at the age of 94, according to local state media.

Amou Haji, not his real name, but a loveable nickname given to elderly people, died on Sunday in the village of Dejgah, as per reports.

Haji, who was known for his grimy skin and matted hair, refused to wash because he believed soap and water would make him sick. He spent the majority of his life alone in an open brick hut built by villagers after he began sleeping in a hole in the ground.

  • Amou Haji's hut
    Amou Haji's hut

Haji's eccentricities were attributed by locals to "emotional setbacks" in his youth. As part of his diet, Haji also avoided fresh food in favor of rotted porcupines and smoked a pipe wherein he would place animal excrement.

Haji's story was the subject of the 2013 short documentary "The Strange Life of Amou Haji," according to the Daily Mail.

It is worth noting that villagers had reportedly taken him to a bathroom to wash a few months before he died. 

Following Haji's death, the title of "world's dirtiest man" is now up for grabs. According to The Guardian, Kailash "Kalau" Singh, an Indian who had not showered in more than 30 years as of 2009, could be a frontrunner for the strange award.

  • Amou Haji
  • Iran
  • world's dirtiest man
  • Dejgah

Trending Now

All
Iranian airplane (Archive)

Direct flights between Tehran, Caracas launched

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian leader, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes a public address at the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, March 21, 2023 (Office of the Iranian leader via AP)
Asia

US sparked Ukraine war to expand NATO: Iranian leader Sayyed Khamenei

  • Today
Iraqi Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased from the US, maneuver during a live fire exercise outside Baghdad, Iraq, October 18, 2011 (AP)
Europe

US expediting delivery of M1A1 Abrams tanks, Patriot system to Ukraine

  • 21 Mar
A general view of the illegal Israeli settlement of 'Efrat' in the occupied West Bank, occupied Palestine, January 30, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' repeals law that sanctioned four West Bank settlements

  • 21 Mar
Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership
Europe

Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership

  • 21 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS