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Witches Persecution Report for June 7th, 2009

This is a report I am beginning at the suggestion of several people in the last few days and hours. Attacks on people who are either Witches or simply being accused of being one has grown in recent years. Witch School is global and this may affect us all. So Here is my first collection of articles.

In today's collection we have Gambia President bringing in Witch Doctors to hunt Witches in his government, a UN Representative speaking out on Witch Killings, and the Hunt of Witches in India.

Witch-hunt bid foiled in Malda
7 Jun 2009, 0421 hrs IST, TNN

Had Gajole BDO Sankha Santra and circle inspector Bhaskar Das not intervened, the two tribal women would not have survived the wrath of the villagers. They are now in safe custody of the police.

Villagers decided that Sukhi Hembram, a widow in her fifties, and her unmarried daughter Minu Hansda, were witches because the 10-year-old daughter of Churka Murmu of Talkuri village under Gajole PS had been suffering from an ailment for quite some time and treatment by quacks did not yield any result.

A meeting was held with a soothsayer, who said Sukhi was a witch who had cast her spell on the villagers and their sufferings would not end as long as she was alive.

Modern-day witch hunting in India
Joe Fleishman
June 04, 2009
Sita Rani, a so called Indian witch somehow managed to escape with her life by the assistance of the local authorities. But all other pronounced witches are not so lucky. It is not very uncommon that the women were even killed in a barbaric manner once she has been identified as a witch.

Zimbabwe: Self-confessed witch mentally stable
Her 12 month prison term is suspended by court
Friday 5 June 2009, by Alice Chimora

A self-confessed witch in Zimbabwe who claimed to have flown naked in a winnowing basket for 120km has been given a wholly suspended one-year prison term by a magistrate but her husband is reluctant to take her back.

Gambia: President drops bombshell
Posted on Saturday 6 June 2009 - 07:03
Buya Jammeh, AfricaNews reporter in Banjul, Gambia

Gambia's President Yaya Jammeh has admitted witch hunting allegations against his government, a crusade which forced more than one thousand people to flew to neighbouring Cassamance southern region of Senegal. He confirmed that he had to bring witch doctors to identify and eradicate the witches.

He said that ever since he brought witch doctors to identify and eradicate the witches, there has been a drastic reduction of unnecessary deaths resulting from malaria and other incidents.

UN worried about wicked witches
05 June, 2009, 06:55

A UN speaker has voiced a sharp protest against the murder and abuse of witches around the world.

Professor Phillip Alston, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations from the Human Rights Council on Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, discussed how the belief in witchcraft, and the perceived 'evil nature' of those practicing, it is preserved in a number of countries around the world.

According to Alston, there are a number of reports of women being murdered simply due to a suspicion of their practicing witchcraft.

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Permalink Reply by Isabella LaVey on June 6, 2009 at 10:58pm

even in my small town its getting hard to say im wiccan with out some verbaly or physicaly trying to attack me thankfully i have my friends to watch my back

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Permalink Reply by Firelake on June 7, 2009 at 1:27am

I don't mention being a witch around the tiny town I live in. I imagine I would have people showing up at my house w/ torches. Much like the villagers showing up at the castle to kill Frankenstein. But I did come out of the broom closet in an interview on live radio and the Internet. I get tired of coming under fire, and the Christians that feel the need to save me.
Unfortunately, most of the non pagan world view all witches and pagans as satanic all because they believe there are only 2 sides.

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Permalink Reply by Rev. Sherry Cooper on June 7, 2009 at 8:48am

I have come completely out and I am now to the point that I don't care what others think of me. People who are Christians around me really don't start in as they see the type of person I am. Now if I am out somewhere and Im wearing my Pentacle I do get stares.. You can almost hear them praying.
My sister in law goes to church every Sunday and Wednesday and has bible study - She said to each their own. I think if people know a little about Pagan lives then they are more excepting..
Propaganda is bad in any form when used to destroy something.

Its kind of like Cannabis - They used to say it turned you into a Raving Lunatic but in all reality it doesn't. Many states now are utilizing this for medicinal uses. So when you think about it what needs to happen in any case is EDUCATION.

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Permalink Reply by Devin on June 7, 2009 at 10:02am

It is sad..Sad that this is how the world is turning out. The only people I have ever been afraid of or..had to watch myself around, have been the gun toting, Bible thumping, shove their religion down your throat, live in a closet and spout religious beliefs but don't live by them type of people. They are just crazy enough to do something awful. Just because they don't understand or can't even begin to comprehend that there is more than just one religion and point of view in this world. There is right and wrong. And hurting people because you don't understand ..well to my family that is wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Charma on June 7, 2009 at 10:58am

AND THIS FROM THE U.S.:

Newt Gingrich: Americans "Are Surrounded By Paganism"

Huffington Post | Nicholas Graham
First Posted: 06- 6-09 10:31 PM | Updated: 06- 6-09 11:09 PM

At an event in Virginia titled "Rediscovering God in America," Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee aimed to recapture lost political momentum for the Christian right with strong exhortations for members to involve themselves in politics in order to maintain and increase the presence of religion in the public square, the Virginia-Pilot reports.

Both men railed against abortion rights, gay rights and the lack of religious influence in American public life, however Gingrich upped the ante in his attempt to stir up the crowd with this line:

I think this is one of the most critical moments in American history. We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism.

However, Huckabee was not to be outdone in the use of hyperbole. The former Republican presidential candidate called the United States a "blessed" nation whose victory against the British in the Revolutionary War was "a miracle from God's hand," indeed the same type of miracle that defeated the legalization of gay marriage in California.

Another speaker at the event was Oliver North.

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Permalink Reply by Witch School on June 7, 2009 at 11:04am

Hi and Wow,

Thanks for this.

Can you provide us a direct link? This is terrific and I am asking everyone who posts to give us a back link. Also you can just copy the first paragraph or two, and give us the link for the rest. That way we don't get hit for copyright infringement.

Keep up the good work. This is definitely a fast track to a weird new world.

Thanks
Ed

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Permalink Reply by Firelake on June 7, 2009 at 11:19am

here is one link to the newt article
http://tinyurl.com/p2gd5v

hmmmmm, he needs to be turned into a newt!
WTF, isn't his daughter or some relative of his a lesbian? And there out there preaching against gay marriage. What an redneck ass!
Makes me ashamed that I was born in raised in Ga.

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Permalink Reply by Firelake on June 7, 2009 at 11:42am

But the "think Progress" camp is a good one to read. They have comments!
http://tinyurl.com/pe9bzf
SO EVERYBODY GO TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK.

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Permalink Reply by SilverFeathyr on June 7, 2009 at 11:43pm

On the topic, I found a youtube.com video (by paranormaltv) on witches. Thought others would be interested too, as it talks about persecution, historically and much more recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk7K6ttBthQ
Check it out!

BB,
SilverFeathyr

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Permalink Reply by Brandon Blessed on June 15, 2009 at 8:25am

I have come to figure out that in the world today there is actually a rise of Wiccans, and that other people are being forced into the position to figure it out or lash out. "They" want something more from religion than what they are getting, so many people are looking towards the nature based and Goddess based religions. That is making some except, and some want to kill. I let any and everyone know. I live in a small town as well, but I just dont care. I think people are too scared and some too interested to do anything anyways.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Jenkins on June 15, 2009 at 6:02pm

I'm open. I was open in high school. Some were afraid, others interested. I've learned along the way that sacrifices are made for our own happiness. We cannot spend our lives worrying over others' opinions, living in shadows of guilt. If you at all believe the alleged history of the "Old Religion," this is in fact what happened, a cloaking of mystery, and yet still any suspected were put to death, no matter even if innocent. If we've learned anything from history, real or fiction, it is that we ultimately must stand for ourselves.

I'm proud to wear my Witch School tee shirts, my jewelry, and openly discuss these things in public. One shouldn't be afraid to be open around me either. I understand many will need leaders to look up to, and no, I don't mean figures that just hang out at Pagan events, I mean real people out in the streets of everyday people. That is exactly where you will find me. If you want strength, feel free to look at my way of life and image, and from that thoughtform, project it into yourself and your psyche, or perhaps find a deity that is open in a similar fashion and achieve the godhead of this deity to help you.

Witch School will be at the front lines of this battle more than any organization, and I'll be one of its few that will be there in the streets to protect the rest of you that won't be. I'll fight for you. Witch School will fight for you.

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Permalink Reply by Misty Rivers on June 17, 2009 at 3:04pm

I live in a small town in the Bible Belt. I never tell anyone anything about me. In fact, I adhere to "The Laws" which are only a remnant of Wicca that we have today. The Laws were guarded by witches who saved it during the Burning Times.
In a sad way, it still rings true today.

-"Ever remember, ye are the 'Hidden Children of the Goddess'."
-"If any person, not in the magic circle, speak of the Craft say, 'Speak not to me of such, it frightens me. Tis evil luck to speak of it'."
For this reason: the Christians have their spies everywhere. To such as these, ever deny all knowledge.
-But the curse of the Goddess be on any who cast suspicion on any of the Brotherhood, or speaks of any real meeting place where any abide.
-Remember the Art is the secret of the Gods and only may be used in earnest and never for show or pride, or vainglory.
So Be It Ardane