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Accused Witch Burned Alive in Papua New Guinea

Despite scores of witnesses, no arrests have been made

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2013 1:15 PM CST

(Newser) – The AP has a horrific story from Papua New Guinea, where a 20-year-old woman was tortured by a mob and then burned alive after being accused of witchcraft. Hundreds of bystanders watched, and some even photographed her death, but local police have yet to make a single arrest. Kepari Leniata, who has an infant son, was accused of sorcery by relatives of a young boy who had recently died in the hospital. Leniata's husband is suspected of playing a role in the accusations, and he is now missing.

While belief in sorcery is relatively common in rural PNG and this isn't the first sorcery-related killing there, Leniata's death has become a national sensation—similar to the gang rape and murder of a young woman in India, reports the Australian. Wonders editor Rowan Callick: "Is it possible that Lanieta's brutal killing could trigger a similar popular campaign in PNG, which could lead to appropriate legislative and educational reform, and to a tough response from the police and courts?"

A rural road in Papua New Guinea.
A rural road in Papua New Guinea.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 44 comments
Ivan_the_Gypsy
Feb 10, 2013 7:49 PM CST
Some Haitians were accused of being witches and killed in haiti because they were said to have caused the earthquake.  But then this IS Haiti and no one can ever accuse Haiti of being a civilized country.  They still sit in the ruins years later waiting for a magician to rebuild things\ and pray to their Voodoo Gods.
Ivan_the_Gypsy
Feb 10, 2013 7:43 PM CST
Civilization has a long, long way to go with the world constantly at war as the religious cults fight over mystical spooks and superstitious nonsense.  The middle east today is an example of religion's evils.  No good has ever come from it throught history, but of course the superstitious defend their cults as the "true" religion.
TessTalks
Feb 9, 2013 11:06 PM CST
How come men never get burned alive for being assholes?
 

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