Canada and the World
Current Events with a Canadian Perspective
Last update
19 November 2010
Burning of Witches Continues Today
Between the 14th century and the 18th century
tens of thousands of “witches” were executed
in Europe; the gruesome ritual still happens elsewhere
The period of witch killings in Europe became known as “The Burning Times.”
Religioustolerance.org says the most frequently quoted estimates are between 50,000 and 100,000 victims, with about a quarter of them being male.
Many were hanged, some drowned, and others killed with extreme cruelty.
Burning alive was favoured in some areas with the executioners following the instructions
of Saint Augustine (354-
Of course, none of victims were guilty of a capital crime as we would define it today.
Witch Burning in Kenya
BBC News correspondent Odhiambo Joseph reported in June 2009 witnessing “witch” executions in the Kisii district of Kenya in East Africa.
“I personally saw the burning alive of five elderly men and women in Itii village.
“As a stranger I felt I had no choice but to stand by and watch. My fear was that if I showed any sign of disapproval, or made any false move, the angry mob could turn on me. Not one person was protesting or trying to stop the killing.”
Local youths told Joseph “that a child had spent the night walking around and then
was unable to talk the following morning -
Killing Witches a Frequent Occurrence in Kisii District
In May 2008, 11 elderly people suspected of being witches were burned to death in Kisii district.
According to another BBC News report (May 2008) villagers claimed they had proof that witchcraft was going on. “They say they found an exercise book at a local primary school that contained the minutes of a ‘witches’ meeting’ which detailed who was going to be bewitched next.”
Lynchings Happen Outside Africa
Saeed Ahmed reported on CNN (January 8, 2009) that, “A woman in rural Papua New Guinea was bound and gagged, tied to a log, and set ablaze on a pile of tires this week, possibly because villagers suspected her of being a witch…”
Amnesty International Australia says this atrocity is not an isolated incident: “In the remote communities and highlands provinces of Papua New Guinea, ‘puri puri’ – the traditional belief of sorcery – is being rampantly used as a pretext for brutal acts of violence against women.
“More than 50 reported cases of sorcery-
According to the human rights organization women “are six times more likely to be accused of sorcery than men.”
Sources
“The Burning Times.” Religious Tolerance.
“Horror of Kenya`s `Witch`Lynchings.” Odhiambo Joseph, BBC News, June 26, 2009.
“Kenya `Witch` Case Mass Arrests.” BBC News, May 29, 2009.
“Woman Suspected of Witchcraft Burned Alive.” Saeed Ahmed, CNN, January 8, 2009.
“Women Killed for Witchcraft in PNG.”`Amnesty International, January 29, 2009.
© Canada and the World, October 2010
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In September 1944, Jane Rebecca Yorke became the last person convicted under Britain’s Witchcraft Act.
The last person executed for witchcraft in England was Alice Molland who was hanged at Exeter in 1684.
Scotland continued executing alleged witches until 1722; Janet Horne being the last to suffer this fate.
The last witch execution in continental Europe took place in Switzerland in 1792.
Every year, on midsummer evening Danes gather for ritualistic witch burning ceremonies.
“In some parts of Europe (e.g., England), torture was rarely used; but where the
witch-
“Obviously, a large majority of accused who `confessed` to witchcraft did so as a result of the brutal tortures to which they were exposed. About half of all convicted witches were given sentences short of execution.
“The unluckier half were generally killed in public, often en masse, by hanging or burning.”