AFRICA - Ebola and witchcraft: children accused of causing the spread of the virus

Freetown (Agenzia Fides) - Thousands of boys and girls are abused and killed in Africa because accused of witchcraft (see Fides 22/09/2014), and this reality is also increasing due to the spread of the Ebola virus. In fact, the young children are blamed for causing pain, disease and death. In addition, the popular tradition believes that these "evil" youngsters can transform themselves into animals and are stigmatized and rejected because they eat human flesh and drink blood. Generally people accused of witchcraft are the most vulnerable, socially, physically, economically, or morally weak, as in the case of the elderly, widows, the disabled and, in particular children. The accusations are related to disabilities and physical differences of newborns, as well as the high rate of illiteracy among the population, poverty and deadly diseases like ebola. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 25/09/2014)