Women branded ‘witches’ suffer abuse and violence

 
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Hundreds of women in London are suffering horrific punishment for being “witches” in a hidden epidemic of violence and abuse, it was warned today.

Some are being repeatedly beaten to remove “evil spirits” after adopting Western habits. Others are being forced to undergo exorcisms carried out by faith leaders that can lead to serious physical and mental harm.

The perpetrators include those who genuinely believe in witchcraft. But others are using cultural beliefs as a cover for inflicting domestic violence on wives and daughters. The warning by London’s chief crown prosecutor Alison Saunders follows research by the Crown Prosecution Service.

It also follows the conviction of three men from east London in September for attacking a female relative in an attempted exorcism. The woman, Asma Hussain, 60, from Poplar, was held down by her son and son-in-law while her husband poured water over her face in what they claimed was an attempt to remove a demon.

She was also hit repeatedly with a walking stick by an imam, and was later found to have been subjected to eight hours of continuous beating.

The unwillingness of victims to testify means that other cases of women being branded as witches or accused of being possessed by evil spirits have yet to come to court. But Ms Saunders said: “There are potentially hundreds of cases. It is far more common than people think and we believe that it is hugely under-reported. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence. We are getting more and more noise about witchcraft, exorcism and the sort of things where belief and faith leads to violence and abuse.” Ms Saunders said that in one case a man had claimed his wife was possessed by evil spirits to force her into a divorce. She had been subjected to an exorcism and serious violence as a result.

In another, a young woman accused of adopting a Western lifestyle was similarly subjected to beatings.

Ms Saunders warned that criminal offences were being committed and urged friends and neighbours, as well as victims, to report concerns and prevent further violence. Prosecutors say that special measures will be available to help victims who are willing to testify, including the provision of screens in court to shelter them from public gaze.

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