Nigerian churches, others causing increased
witchcraft persecution in UK – Group
October 12, 2015 Ben Ezeamalu
Bishop David Oyedepo
The significant rise in cases of witchcraft
allegations and persecution in the UK has been
attributed to the activities of African –
especially Nigerian – churches in the country.
Gary Foxcroft, Executive Director of the
Witchcraft and Human Rights Information
Network, said in a statement Monday that the
churches are growing at a phenomenal rate
across the UK.
“Most of them are branches of large mega
churches from Africa,” said Mr. Foxcroft.
“Some of these churches are known to promote
the idea that children can be witches. Indeed
the head of one of the biggest churches in
Africa was captured on YouTube slapping a
young woman and calling her a witch.
“There is currently no regulation in place to
stop such people from entering the UK and
establishing churches. This is clearly
something that the government needs to
address.”
Cases of witchcraft allegations and persecution
have risen in the UK over the last two years,
according to a BBC investigation.
The Metropolitan Police said there had been 60
crimes linked to belief in witchcraft and spirit
possession in London so far this year, with
reports doubling from 23 in 2013 to 46 in
2014.
More widely, in local councils across the UK,
recorded cases rose from 10 in 2012, to 21 in
2013, and 31 in 2014, the police stated.
Experts, however, believe that the statistics
represent the tip of the iceberg of a widespread
phenomenon, with human rights campaigners
calling for the UK government to do more to
regulate faith groups, many of whom are
believed to be behind such practices.
Mr. Foxcroft linked cases of witchcraft
allegations and persecution to Christian and
Muslim faith group where children, women, and
the disabled are often labelled as witches or
possessed by evil spirits, and then forced to
undergo ‘deliverance’ or ‘exorcism’ ceremonies,
often for a fee.
“There are a number of challenges to overcome
to put a stop to this practice,” Mr. Foxcroft
said.
“The first is at a national policy level. There is
a complete lack of regulation of the people and
practices that are behind these cases.
“The fact is that most cases primarily arise due
to the practices of faith leaders, often in
Pentecostal churches.”
Mr. Foxcroft said whilst the Home Office had
been focusing strongly on preventing Islamic or
far-right extremists from entering the UK to
spread their hate speech, more needs to be
done to stop pastors who commit acts of terror
on children.
“Preventing such people from entering the UK
therefore needs to be prioritized,” he said.
“Additionally, any places of worship found to be
promoting such beliefs and practices in the UK
should be shut down and have their assets
seized.
“The Charity Commission in particular needs to
show stronger leadership here. Finally, at the
local level awareness and understanding is
lacking amongst frontline staff.
“Most practitioners that we have trained
express how they find the beliefs in witchcraft
and subsequent methods used to deal with
them, such as deliverances or exorcisms,
deeply challenging issues to work on.”
Other human rights campaigners have also
focused on the importance of challenging the
beliefs that lead to children and other
vulnerable groups being labelled as witches.
Leo Igwe, a human rights activist, said that any
initiative to tackle the problem must include a
program that educates and enlightens people to
understand that children cannot be witches.
“The belief that they cause misfortune through
witchcraft or magic is mistaken and must be
abandoned,” said Mr. Igwe, who has worked to
raise awareness of the issues facing vulnerable
people accused of witchcraft in Africa and
Europe.
“Religion or multiculturalism is not, and should
not be, an excuse to condone harmful practices
in Africa or in migrant communities in the UK.” http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/191396-nigerian-churches-others-causing-increased-witchcraft-persecution-in-uk-group.html