Historic

al witch
hunts
Historical context
● What is witchcraft?
Collaboration with the devil through the use of magic

● What are witch hunts?

A search for people who have been labeled witches

● When did they occur?

Intensive period of witch-hunts in Early Modern Europe and
Colonial America: 1400 – 1782
Examples around the world
Europe:
● The trial of the Basque witches
(Spain)
January 1609

● The Bamberg Witch Trials

(Germany)
from 1626 to 1631
Examples around the world
 USA
● Salem Witch Trials
(1692, Massachusetts, USA):

● Satanic Panic
(1980s-1990s USA)
Examples around the world
 Modern-day witch hunts
Albinism Witch
Witch hunts in India Hunts (Africa)

Witch hunts in Papua Witch hunts in the

New Guinea amazon
 Witch hunts in India

● Common in rural, poorer areas

● Target elderly or single women
● Used as a tool to oppress women
and justify violence
● Consequences: various forms of
physical and mental torture, as
well as execution
● Since 2000: more than 3080
killed women
 Modern-day witch hunts
Albinism Witch
Witch hunts in India Hunts (Africa)

Witch hunts in Papua Witch hunts in the

New Guinea amazon
Albinism Witch Hunts (Africa)

● Driven by beliefs that their body parts

possess magical properties
● Physical and psychological violence
(public humiliation, forced confessions,
torture, beatings, traditional “cleansing”
medicines, murder…)
● Tanzania: 75 albinos killed between 2000
and 2016
● Widespread problem in Malawi, Burundi,
Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and
more
 Modern-day witch hunts
Albinism Witch
Witch hunts in India Hunts (Africa)

Witch hunts in Papua Witch hunts in the

New Guinea amazon
Witch hunts in Papua New Guinea

● Belief in sorcery - known locally as

“sanguma”
● Causes: lack of justice systems, education
and proper healthcare
● Victims: vulnerable women
● 200 killings of “witches” in Papua New
Guinea annually
● Fear of black magic fuels the violence
 Modern-day witch hunts
Albinism Witch
Witch hunts in India Hunts (Africa)

Witch hunts in Papua Witch hunts in

New Guinea Amazonia
 Witch hunts in Amazonia

● Witch-hunting within the indigenous

tribes living in the amazon rainforest
● Peruvian rainforest: Woman in her 70s
burned alive on a bonfire
 The consequences
For the
accused?
Torture, imprisonment, and
execution. Their lives were
shattered, and their families
often stigmatized
For the
accuser?
Guilt or remorse (once they
realize the injustice they’ve
caused), as well as societal
backlash
For society?
Destroyed trust within
communities, slowed down
development and spreading of
harmful beliefs = lasting scars on
societies
Possible solutions
● Education: promote education to combat superstitions and
encourage critical thinking

● Legal Reforms: fair and just legal systems to protect the

rights of the accused

● Community Dialogue: open discussions within

communities to address fears, injustice, and social
prejudice

● Psychological Support: counseling and support to both

accusers and the accused to reduce the impact of witch
hunts
 Sources
• The trial of the Basque witches
• European Witch-Hunting (A Brief History)
• India Witch Hunting - New York Times
• Witch Hunt On The Rise In Maoist Affected Odisha
• Ending Albino Persecution Africa
• Witch Hunts Ritual Child Abuse - Albinism Africa
• Papua New Guinea - Witchcraft Justice
Thank you
for your
attention!