Meet Raihan, Hairy 'Hanoman' Boy from North Kalimantan

TANJUNG SELOR - Many people who did not know the strange phenomenon that happens to a child in this North Kalimantan. Let we meet the teenage 'werewolf' who is covered from head to toe in thick, three inch long black hair.

That boy named Muhammad Raihan (13) has turned down medical treatment for his ultra rare condition because he thinks it's a blessing from God. The boy is revered as a Hindu deity in his Indonesian village because of his unusually hairy physique.

In fact, the student suffers from a rare genetic condition Werewolf Syndrome which causes his hands, legs, back and stomach to be covered in hair. Muhammad faces name calling from some peers who liken him to Hindu monkey god, Hanoman.

But the devout Muslim, who lives with his widowed mum and four siblings in Mamburung village in North Kalimantan, is unfazed with the name-calling and considers himself to be God's special child.

"I am not bothered with such attention. Some people laugh at me, others just come to me for a blessing. Sometime people would flock to my house from far-off villages to just have a glimpse of me," Muhammad said.

"They think I am a god or have special powers, but this attention is okay because I know I look different," he added.

The boy's mum, Pardan (45), who lost her farmer husband, Muslihah 10 months ago, has taken him to several doctors but she stopped medication after they told her that his hair would only grow longer and thicker with age.

"He had more hair on his body than my elder son but I was not worried as every child is different. However my concern grew when the hair grew longer and thicker. His father and I were worried about the excessive hair growth and took him to several doctors but none could treat him. Some did offer laser surgery but it was beyond our financial capacity so we stopped," Pardan said.

Pardan has instead instilled confidence and faith in God in Muhammad.

Now, Muhammad lives with his four siblings and widowed mum in Borneo

"He is a gift of God and we believe his appearance is the will of Allah. I have taught him to never complain about his condition but instead accept it with grace," she added.

And for Muhammed, who shares a room with his unaffected siblings, he feels blessed to have a distinct appearance and wishes to serve as a mosque cleric in thanks.

"I am blessed by God and this makes me happy. I am his favourite child and want to serve him my whole life. I don't want any medical treatment because I'm happy this way," he concluded.