In Paraguay, the accusations of being a witch is not part of Halloween-related role playing. Instead, it's a serious allegation that can cost you your life.
Most recently, the residents of the South American nation have accused an indigenous woman of being a witch. Adolfina Ocampos, 45, was tied to a stake, shot full of arrows and buried alive after she was accused of being a witch. She was sentenced to death by the community chief of the Mbyá Guarani ethnic group. The Daily Mail reports that when she died is not confirmed, but her death took place in the village of Tahehyi, located 180 miles north of the capital Asuncion.
While it may seem shocking and barbaric to kill a woman over such allegations, the UN Refugee Agency has estimated that thousands of people around the world are accused of being witches each year. The allegations result in abuse, being shunned from their community and family, and in the worst case, death.
Even then, there has been a significant increase of witch accusations in Paraguay. According to Italian anthropologist and Catholic priest Jose Zanardini, Ocampos death is unprecedented.
"I've been working in Paraguay for 40 years and I can't remember a similar episode of an execution for alleged sorcery," said Zanardini. "The tragic death of this woman is isolated and out of the ordinary within the co-existence of Paraguay's 20 ethnic indigenous groups. In general, the Indians are very peaceful and tolerant."
Local prosecutor Fany Aguilera has charged nine men with first-degree murder and they have reportedly admitted to killing the victim. On Wednesday, the state agency for the protection of indigenous people said that "although the indigenous communities are ruled by customary law, their acts cannot violate the constitutional rights of respecting the life and the liberty of people."
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