Global Quickies: Witchcraft, Gurus, and #BringBackOurGirls
NIGERIA
Nigeria’s chief of defense announced a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram and the release of the 200 abducted girls. Not many details have been announced and many Nigerians remain extremely skeptical.
TANZANIA
Tanzanian police have charged 23 people with murder after seven villagers were burned alive on suspicion of witchcraft. A Tanzanian human rights group estimates that 500 suspected witches are killed in Tanzania annually.
CZECH REPUBLIC
A guru was found guilty of eight counts of rape. The sect leader set up a spiritual convent where he convinced, pressured, and coerced hundreds of women into sex, telling them that it would heal them spiritually. (warning: Daily Mail link).
KENYA
Kenya’s government has dismissed allegations made by the country’s Catholic Church that a tetanus vaccine can cause sterility in women.
UK
“Psychic” Sally Morgan fired her husband and son in law after a video was released of them threatening and saying homophobic insults to a skeptic handing out leaflets outside her shows.
Women’s rights, equity and building safe communities matters to us more than it did before. We have the years witnessed grassroots movements working hard to promote women rights and health equity. I think this is an important step to try and break barriers to women development. Sharing with the Barefoot Grannies, a grassroots movement of grannies and women working hard to end Female Genital Mutilation and promote women reproductive health. Please join and support the Barefoot Grannies through the link http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/barefoot-grannies-ii/x/639146