19 May 2009

Abuse of Child 'Witches' Burgeoning

Abuse of Child 'Witches' Burgeoning
Posted May 18, 09 10:17 AM CDT in Crime & Courts, World
(Newser) – Children dubbed “witches” are facing increasing abuse in Nigeria and elsewhere, advocates say. “They would take my clothes off, tie me up and beat me,” said a 14-year-old, whose grandfather concluded he was a “witch” 2 years ago when he cried at the threat of being beaten with a broom. “Nigerian witches are terrified of brooms,” the grandfather tells CNN.

“Children accused of witchcraft are often incarcerated in churches for weeks on end and beaten, starved, and tortured in order to extract a confession,” said a member of an advocacy group. Often, the children have conditions like learning disabilities or epilepsy. Some 15,000 kids are labeled witches in two Nigerian states, and “it is a growing issue worldwide, among not just African communities, but in countries such as Nepal,” said a UN worker.
Source: CNN


Over and over, i read stories like this. Stories of our children being abused. In Africa, in Asia, in Europe.
When, oh when, will our children be safe?

1 comment:

Emm said...

That is just horrific. I cannot beleive these people (ie his grandfather) are genuine in their ignorance either - I think they are evil and are playing with the press when they say things like that. They know they are wrong but feel the need to justify their cruelty.

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