Igwe’s offer to help fight sorcery is rebuffed

BARRY DUKE | The Freethinker

FOLLOWING REPORTS that a young woman in Papua New Guinea had been burned alive for being a witch, Nigerian humanist and human rights campaigner Leo Igwe (pictured) – who has tirelessly been campaigning against witchcraft atrocities in Africa – issued a statement calling for international action and education programs to stamp out the superstitious beliefs that lead to these horrendous killings.

Kepari Leniata, 20, died on a bonfire in a rubbish tip after being accused of being a witch, and using her powers to kill a young boy. The young mother was stripped, tortured in doused with gasoline.

Igwe said that for too long UN agencies and other international human rights bodies have kept silent, all in the name of “respecting” the cultural beliefs, and he called on “sceptics, critical thinkers and all people of reason in Papua New Guinea to rise up to the challenge of bringing end to witchcraft-related murders and other superstition-based abuses”.

To this end, Igwe contacted a number of organisations and agencies in PNG in an effort to enlist their co-operation, but at least one body, The Melanesian Institute, said it could not possibly cooperate with Igwe because of his association with the James Randi Institute, and the nature of articles written by Igwe and posted on the Internet.

On 11 February, Igwe wrote to Rev Jack Urame, of the Melanesian Institute, saying:

My name is Leo Igwe. I am research student-working on witchcraft accusation at the University of Bayreuth. I am partnering with the James Randi Educational Foundation to understand and help address the phenomenon of witchcraft accusation.

I am contacting you regarding the recent case of witch burning in your country. We at JREF would like to partner with you to understand and help address this sociocultural issue.

With your Institute, we can work to develop a public education and enlightenment program, and campaign to bring to an end the menace of witch burning in Papua New Guinea.

We were all touched by the recent tragedy and would like to help in any way we can stop the witch hunt in Papua New Guinea.

Please let me know if your Institute will agree to work with us.

Writing in behalf of Rev Urame, Rudolf Lies, replied:

We feel indeed that as an institute the MI has done a lot already and will attempt to do its best to continue along that vein and work for change and the eradication of these horrible crimes.

Legal attempts to either change or as we rather feel abolish the Sorcery Act in the country are underway, but a change of mind will take time and effort.

However we feel that the premises that you express in articles found on the internet, and that seem also to be implied in the work of the James Randi Education Foundation make it not possible for us as an institute owned and run by four big churches to enter into closer cooperation.

We wish you all the best, and maybe our efforts will meet with some of yours in practical steps to change cultural patterns that allow for these atrocities. Christian ethics as we see them definitely strive for humanity and a love of life.

Comments

[Peter Kranz]

Haven't all human societies throughout history at some time interpreted unexplained events as the intervention of some supernatural power? Just look at the Bible, or Greek mythology.

Igwe is right. The only way to combat this is through the application of reason and the development of humane moral responsibility through education.

Unfortunately the Christians are skating on thin ice here - hence their reluctance to support him.

[Phil Fitzpatrick]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the tradition of burning witches in Europe and the Americas was pioneered by the Christian churches.

It bothers me that people are now suggesting that the superstitious scourge of sanguma can somehow be mitigated by the application of what is essentially another superstition.

Admittedly the superstitions of the churches are now largely benign but I wonder whether fighting fire with fire is a good idea.

It reminds me of the National Rifle Association in the USA saying that the only way to deal with a bad man with a gun is by using a good man with a gun.

There are many wonderful people in the churches in PNG but I think this is a law and order issue.

[Mrs Barbara Short]

I've just read Mr Igwe's letter on the James Randi Website.

I agree that he would be a good man to get to speak to the people of PNG on the wichcraft problems they are presently experiencing. I hope Cygil will be able to get Amnesty International Australia involved.

As mentioned in another comment of mine, the PNGians belief in sorcery is partly based on the mind and reason, but also on the soul, and so is a spiritual matter and this is why the churches probably feel Mr Igwe is not up to the task.

But if Mr Igwe has achieved success in other countries that also experience problems with belief in witchcraft, then I think he should be invited to PNG to offer his advice.

The more people they can get who will work to expose the lies of these sangumas, the better.

[Cygil Glasper]

I saw Mr Igwe in a lecture last year organised by Canberra Skeptics. He's an excellent lecturer and a powerful speaker.

His lecture was not about religion in general, but only superstitious beliefs such as witchcraft.

Unfortunately no church is likely to partner with an avowed humanist such as Igwe, even when he confines himself to witchcraft issues. Cowardly but not unexpected.

The Australian Skeptics and/or Amnesty International Australia might be available to coordinate activities in PNG. Amnesty have been active on the witch-hunt front in the past few years.

I myself have had enough and I have just volunteered to work for Amnesty Intl on the issue, if they will have me.

I will ask them if they are aware of Mr Igwe and what they might do to help him.