This thread will be used for me (and others) to post stories and links about when witchcraft has featured in legal cases around the world.
Such cases will usually be when "witchcraft" has featured in a normal civil or criminal case; but there will also be cases where witchcraft is the actual offence being prosecuted.
The first one is from South Africa (reported today): http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1133960.htm
I will call this "The Tabankulu Witch Murder". (For ease of discussion, each case on this thread should be given a name.)
This sort of story is the commonest way witchcraft features in a legal case, as a motive for a crime.
Here, some poor bloke was killed by his brothers because (it seems) of a concen that by doing the gardening for a female "witch"- and then moving in with her - he was somehow becoming a witch himself.
The policeman's comment that "[t]he community have warned that they would take the matter into their own hands if the two men are released" does not raise any prospect that this sad matter will come to an early and peaceful end...
Here is a quick snippet whilst I raise this thread from the dead.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/10/10/664675
The former Ugandan Ethics and Integrity minister (of all things) is quoted as saying the desire for quick wealth by businessmen is to blame for child sacrifice in the country.
She reckons that many Ugandans have now turned to witchcraft and child sacrifice with hope of acquiring wealth (how?). However, she doubts if the culprits will be prosecuted.
One wonders what they would be prosecuted for. One would hope it would be under the general criminal law (ie, for murder).
I do not know if Uganda still has witchcraft laws, but I am struck by a former government minister of any country mentioning (as this one seems to do) witchcraft and prosecutions together.
He must have had an interesting tour of dutyOriginally Posted by Jack of Kent
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...hcraft&spell=1
I went off to have a look for a story about witchcraft accusations and this is what came up. I read a few and I am now in shock. I had no idea this was going on. I can’t describe my horror at some of the stories of children being accused of witchcraft. At least an adult in court gets the benefit of the doubt and the protection of the court. Those poor children in the hands of crazy people have no chance.
From one of those links:
http://pilirabvuto.blogspot.com/2008...ccused-of.html
Dark Age conditions. The catholic church must be loving it.Interestingly, the Roman Catholic Church, which is the biggest and most influential denomination in Malawi with a following of 4 million out of the country’s 13 million people, says witchcraft is real in the country.
Reverend Father Stanislaus Chinguo, chairman of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the Blantyre Archdiocese, said in an interview that the church is working on solutions to witchcraft for its followers.
“[Witchcraft] is a real challenge to the church and we have to face it head on. We are looking at a number of solutions and one of those is exorcism,” says Chinguo.
And remember, woos say we should respect others beliefs. I wonder if they respect the bashing of elderly women?
Sixty-three year old Gladys Kasito, in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe, only has one wish – to die peacefully, preferably in her sleep. Kasito says she feels trapped and threatened in her own country. Her community, including her own family, has disowned her. She says everyone is baying for her blood. Kasito has been labeled a witch.
Her face is heavily scarred, she walks with a limp, and has no front teeth. Kasito is recovering from the wounds she sustained when her neighbors demolished her house early one February morning and beat her up.
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