Once upon a time, in a small village hidden deep in the woods, there lived a cruel elderly witch named Edith. She was known throughout the land for her wickedness and malevolence. The villagers feared her and believed that she possessed dark magical powers. Edith's appearance reflected her twisted soul. She had long, unkempt gray hair that seemed to have a life of its own, and her wrinkled face was etched with lines of malice and cunning. Her eyes, a piercing shade of green, seemed to glow with an otherworldly light.
As Mrs Jobson lies in bed, care home workers (pictured) were heard to ask her if she was a 'witch' and also mimicked the groaning sounds she was making, which were caused by her dementia
She was not only subjected to abuse at the hands of her carers, who have now admitted their cruelty and been sentenced in court, but she was also subjected to an appalling standard of care in that she had these horrific pressure ulcers to her heel, sacrum and hips. This is the latest in a long-line of cases where an elderly and vulnerable person has been subjected to appalling abuse in a care or residential home.
Her eyes, a piercing shade of green, seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Whenever people crossed her path, they felt an overwhelming sense of dread and unease. The witch's behavior matched her frightening appearance.
Berkley Center
Many years ago, I visited a “home for witches” in West Africa, a Catholic Church charity that rescued women and some men exiled from their villages because they were seen as witches who cast evil spells. The sad faces there haunt me still, as did the fear that colleagues exhibited. But the experience recalled the deep roots of such beliefs; my own distant ancestor was hung as a witch in Massachusetts in the seventeenth century. Superstitions live on in many forms and places, and fears of evil powers take especially cruel forms. It’s heartening to see efforts to address the violence of those accused of witchcraft today by coalitions willing to brave the wrath of many, including well educated people, who believe at a gut level in mystical and evil powers of people, including older women, children, and albinos, who are seen as causing an extraordinary range of harms. Among positive actions are new African Union guidelines earlier this year condemning witchcraft practices.
In Ghana, the parliament on July 27 passed an act that criminalizes accusations of witchcraft, accompanied by commitments to free women from camps run by the government and a private Church charity. A leading advocate for the cause is scholar of religion John Azumah who leads the Sanneh Institute based in Accra. Azumah has been deeply involved in the coalition that moved strategically to secure passage of the law. His campaigning brought together political savvy, theological arguments, and raw determination.
I asked Azumah how he came to take on the issue. His fierce advocacy, he said, began in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, following the public lynching of a 90-year-old woman accused of being a witch. The case went viral, causing a furor, but such uproars commonly die down. But not for Azumah. The lynching case, and having a cousin in northern Ghana accused as a witch, fired his conscience, and his investigations highlighted the cruelty of the practice and its deep social and religious roots.
Over 600 accused witches, almost all elderly women, are in six different camps. They are exploited often for labor and suffer from hunger and lack of care. Many are essentially slaves. A woman may simply be banished from her village, but some rituals are said to determine if a woman is a witch. For example, a chicken’s head is cut off. After flopping around, if it dies on its stomach, the woman is guilty, while if on its back, she’s innocent. Azumah described how women are forced to scrape grains of rice and other cereals from the ground to eat. They may have a grandchild to provide some care, but the child is then tainted by the accusation. A form of exorcism, involving traditional healers, is needed even when a woman is seen as innocent and can return to her village. Rituals need to be performed, but they are expensive and few accused of witchcraft have the means they need to escape. Even today, public belief in witchcraft is widespread and everyone seemed to believe it, including pastors who even in sermons, accuse people.
Azumah campaigned actively for three years. The coalition focused both on the accusation that someone is a witch, treated with impunity, and on finding ways to support those exiled from their villages and confined to camps that lack resources to support those who find their way there. The campaign enlisted politicians, private citizens, and government officials, looking to a private member bill to circumvent conflicting government priorities and bureaucratic delays. Media were enlisted with pictures and videos of those accused, their sad stories, and even music. Azumah focused on different churches, taking on widespread beliefs that witchcraft has theological justifications. He was startled to find in many seminaries that many people believed that their religious beliefs supported witchcraft. He pointed out again and again that there’s nothing in the Bible, nothing in his religion, that supports the idea of witchcraft. It comes entirely, he said, from traditional beliefs and superstition. It is basically about fear and also issues of money. The issues are very often envy, jealousy. Muslims are very divided. People were afraid to speak against the practice and the widespread assumption that religious teachings supported the existence of witchcraft stood in the way of compassion and changes in practice.
On July 27, the last hurdle was surmounted with unanimous support in Parliament: there was no opposition. Despite laws on battery and against murder, this was the first measure against false accusations. The witch doctors and people who support the accusations were the targets of the new law. Azumah met wide support for his efforts, including a call from Ghana’s president, honoring what he had achieved. There was considerable pride in the new measure.
The next challenge is how to close the witch camps and to support the women confined there. The goal is to close the camps within two years. The legislation makes clear that people are now free to go, but questions remain as to whether they will find a place to go. Money, the cost of their resettlement, will be an issue. Generations will be needed before beliefs in witchcraft disappear. But the new law represents an important step forward in confronting the cruelty of persecution and mistreatment of people, fueled by prejudice and fear. And the victory of the anti-witchcraft coalition offers hope and an example of inspiration and persistence that turned a vision of human rights into practice.
About the Author
Katherine Marshall
Katherine Marshall, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, leads the center’s work on religion and global development. She is also a professor of the practice of development, conflict, and religion in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, teaching diverse courses on the ethics of development work and mentoring students at many levels. She helped to create and now serves as the executive director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue, an NGO that works to enhance bridges between different sectors and institutions. In September 2022, she was appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Marshall has five decades of experience on a variety of development issues in Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and the Middle East, particularly those facing the world’s poorest countries. She was a World Bank officer from 1971 to 2006, and she led the World Bank’s faith and ethics initiative between 2000 and 2006.
Freda Jobson, 85, weighed just four stone after three years at at the home and was left with sores on her ankles and back (pictured) that looked like 'raw meat' when her family pulled off the bandages
She would cackle maniacally, relishing in the misery she caused others. It was said that she had a particular fondness for tormenting animals, transforming them into grotesque creatures or casting spells that made their lives unbearable. The villagers lived in constant fear of Edith's wrath. Many remembered the stories of those who had dared to defy her and had paid a heavy price. She would curse them with afflictions, causing illness, misfortune, or even death. The villagers would often whisper among themselves, sharing chilling tales of Edith's cruel and vindictive nature. Despite her wickedness, there was a mystery surrounding the elderly witch. Some believed that beneath her cold exterior lay a tragic past that had warped her soul. Others speculated that she had made a deal with dark forces, granting her supernatural powers in exchange for her eternal servitude. One fateful day, a brave young woman named Amelia arrived in the village. She had heard tales of the wicked witch and was determined to put an end to her reign of terror. Amelia forged ahead, determined to unveil the truth about Edith and put an end to her dark magic. As Amelia delved deeper into her quest, she uncovered rumors of a hidden talisman that held immense power over Edith. Legend had it that destroying the talisman would weaken the witch and allow the village to be free from her torment forever. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Amelia embarked on a perilous journey to find the talisman. She faced countless obstacles and came face to face with the cruel witch herself, who would stop at nothing to protect her source of power. But Amelia's courage and determination prevailed. With every step she took and every obstacle she overcame, the witch grew weaker. Finally, Amelia stood before Edith, holding the talisman high above her head. As the talisman shattered into a thousand pieces, the witch let out a blood-curdling scream, her power dissipating into the air. The village rejoiced at the downfall of the cruel elderly witch. They celebrated Amelia as a hero, thanking her for delivering them from the clutches of evil. The once-darkened village began to thrive, free from the fear that had plagued them for far too long. And so, the tale of the cruel elderly witch came to an end. Edith's reign of terror was over, and the villagers could finally live in peace. The legend of the cruel witch would be passed down through generations, a reminder of the darkness that can consume even the most seemingly ordinary of individuals..
Reviews for "Intergenerational Healing: Bridging the Gap with the Elderly Witch"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Cruel elderly witch" to be a disappointing read. The plot was repetitive and predictable, with no real surprises or twists. The main character, the elderly witch, lacked depth and seemed more like a caricature than a fully developed character. The writing style was also dull and lacked any kind of creative flair. Overall, I was left feeling bored and unsatisfied with this book.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - "Cruel elderly witch" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The story had a promising concept, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the excessive use of descriptive language weighed the story down, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters, including the elderly witch, were underdeveloped and their actions felt forced and unnatural. The ending was also unsatisfying, leaving loose ends that were never resolved. I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
3. Emma - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to "Cruel elderly witch", but it didn't live up to my expectations. The story lacked depth and failed to explore the potential of its interesting concept. The writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in the characters or the plot. The elderly witch, who should have been a complex and intriguing character, instead felt one-dimensional and uninteresting. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and it didn't have the impact I was hoping for.
4. James - 1 star - "Cruel elderly witch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was disorganized and confusing, making it difficult to understand what was happening. The author failed to create any sense of tension or suspense, leaving me disengaged and uninterested throughout. The characters were unlikable and lacked depth, and their actions were inconsistent and unrealistic. I struggled to finish this book and felt relieved when it was finally over.
5. Megan - 2 stars - I was disappointed by "Cruel elderly witch". The story lacked originality and seemed to borrow heavily from other similar books. The pacing was slow and dragged on, with very few exciting or memorable moments. The elderly witch, who should have been the highlight of the story, was not well-developed and failed to elicit any emotional response from me. In the end, "Cruel elderly witch" was forgettable and failed to leave a lasting impression.