An accused witch was burned alive in Papua New Guinea in front of hundreds of witnesses. On Feb. 8, ABC News reported that a mob stripped, tortured, and bound a woman accused of witchcraft, and then burned her alive for all to see. The gruesome event was witnessed by men, women, and children and covered many news publications for days after. Perhaps this was a way to discourage any one from practicing witchcraft.
The woman, Kepari Leniata, 20, had been "accused of sorcery by relatives of a 6-year-old boy who died in a hospital on Tuesday" (via ABC News).
The accused witch who was burned alive was a mother but that didn't lessen the torture she endured -- nor did it save her from death. According to the report, Leniata was tortured with a hot iron rod, tied up, covered in gasoline, and then set on fire on a pile of car tires and trash.
None of the people who took part in this inhumane incident were arrested. The victim's husband is being called the "prime suspect" according to Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba. However, more than 50 people participated in this crime and many could find themselves in trouble with the law.
The accused witch who was burned alive just adds to the growing number of these kinds of attacks. The public doesn't hesitate to "punish" a person who practices witchcraft in Papua New Guinea.
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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