World Day Against Witch Hunts: A Burning Issue

Witch-Hunting Today

Evidence from Africa, Saudi Arabia, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Latin America shows that violence against women under the guise of “witch hunting” is very much a current political issue. Alarmingly, the UN believes such violence is actually on the rise. Let’s explore modern-day witch-hunting alongside depictions of the witch in contemporary art.

Injustice

Many governments have been addressing past injustice: issuing national apologies, granting posthumous pardons, and erecting memorials to victims. For more on the history of witchcraft, read our article Hags and Slags. The medieval witch hunts were a terrible stain on many countries across Europe. But many of us thought that was the past, right? Sadly, thousands of people around the world on every populated continent are still being accused and punished.

Burning and Beheading

Witch-hunting is not a relic of the past. We may have thought that 300 years after the last witches were executed in Europe and the USA, the story was over. It is not. Burning, beheading, stoning and beating are still with us. And just as in the medieval world, witch-hunters earned prestige, power, and money for their work, cleansing a community of ‘undesirables.’

Cultural Causes

How can this still happen? Factors such as civil unrest, poor healthcare, lack of education, lack of resources, and poverty all play their part. There are structural and systemic causes, too—gender inequality, patriarchal societies, a culture of misogyny, and justice systems that fail to apprehend attackers. In some cases, justice systems encourage and protect abusers.

Natural Disasters

In times of natural disasters and limited resources, similar to the peak of witch hunting in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, calamities like floods, droughts, failed harvests, or sudden illnesses are often attributed to witchcraft and blamed on the witch. Punishing the so-called witch is supposed to restore the balance—you can see why the idea could be seductive to people in need.

Fundamental Religions

Many contemporary witchcraft persecutions are predominantly fueled by religious fundamentalism. The rise of Pentecostalism in developing nations, in particular, has significantly contributed to the resurgence of witch hunts. Evangelical Christians often demonize various cultural traditions and indigenous belief systems, relentlessly pursuing those who adhere to them.

Who Are the Witches?

Who are these “witches” pursued and tormented? Who commits these supposed crimes? Ordinary people, of course: elderly women, widows, disabled children, individuals with dementia, people with birthmarks, immigrants, and Indigenous communities. Accusations can target those practicing herbal or traditional medicine, or those offering good fortune charms. Any vulnerable person on the fringes of a community is at risk.

Misogyny

When women exceed the narrow roles assigned to them by their community, they often become targets. Whether they possess too much wealth or too little, have too many children or too few, all deviations are deemed “suspicious” and invite judgment and punishment. Remarkably, in Saudi Arabia, witchcraft remains a criminal offense, and religious witch hunts are officially sanctioned by the courts.

Rich or Poor

If a woman owns land or has wealth, she is often accused of gaining it through sinful means. A tactic seen historically in Europe and now prevalent in parts of India is the “land-grab” strategy. Here, landowning women, typically older widows, are accused of witchcraft, leading to their ostracization and eventual abandonment of their homes. Subsequently, their neighbors seize their land. Similarly, impoverished women face similar risks. In Nepal, for instance, low-caste women with limited resources and no financial means might be scapegoated for disease epidemics or livestock illnesses.

Child Witches

In Benin, babies born in the breech position—meaning not head first—are branded as witches. These innocent infants are unjustly accused of causing failed crops or community illnesses, often leading to their abandonment or even death. Shockingly, instead of combatting this barbaric practice, some government and church officials exploit these fears of witchcraft to stoke hysteria.

In the UK, cases of child abuse linked to faith have resulted in exorcisms, starvation, and genital mutilation of children perceived as rebellious, ill, or disabled.

Witches in the UK

The scenarios mentioned above are unfortunately echoed in various forms worldwide. It is important to clarify that the intention of this article is not to shame or stigmatize any particular culture or country. In the UK, there have been approximately 2,000 reported and investigated cases of ritual abuse, with many more going unreported due to fear of repercussions.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, some unscrupulous faith leaders and churches took advantage of community fears by claiming to offer cures through prayer. For instance, a church in London was found selling a “plague cure kit” comprising a bottle of oil and a bundle of red yarn. In this instance, it could be argued that the church was essentially exploiting community anxieties akin to historical witch hunts, but for financial gain.

Politics and Power

The term “witch hunt” is often tossed around by politicians, celebrities, and media outlets to criticize everything from sexual assault allegations to political corruption. However, this casual use belies the harsh reality that actual witch hunts continue to lead to mutilation and murder in many parts of the world.

Ironically, historical witch trials rarely targeted the rich and powerful, who often escaped true justice. This stark contrast highlights the misuse of a powerful phrase that trivializes the profound suffering and injustice experienced by vulnerable individuals still caught in the grip of witchcraft accusations today.

What’s Next?

The figure of the witch holds powerful symbolism today. We recognize that individuals may identify as witches and practice magic, spirituality, or nature-based paganism. Discussions on power dynamics, gender, and feminism often arise from these identities, sparking thought-provoking ideas.

However, using accusations of witchcraft to justify gender-based violence? No. Spreading false claims in response to escalating global economic disparities? No. Allowing local superstitions to escalate into violence amid social tensions? No. Whether driven by fear, ignorance, or prejudice, mob violence disguised as witch hunts must end.

What’s needed now is education and dialogue, and, above all, justice. It’s time to confront these issues openly and ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with dignity.