Humanitarian issue- Child witches and religious abuse

[GreenBlaze]

Hi everyone, I saw this article in the Guardian newspaper and was horrified. I read of child witch hunts  or children being said to be be possessed by the devil because of being autistic about 15 years ago  in West African and thought this could be a done deal and closed topic now -but it is still going on in countries all over the world and in immigrant communities particularly. This religious abuse is happening in Islam, Hinduism and Christianity and perhaps other faiths to. Religion is being misused in all these faiths.

I did some more research myself and found some links. I looked up some of the articles and found an organization called CRARN and Patrick School of languages that was set up by a mother of a son who was labelled as a spiritual attack for having autism. It is heartbreaking really. Perhaps take a read yourself.

This practice can be arranged in private to and we need to help.

The jolly season is nearly on us so perhaps you could think about donating. It is easy to donate to CRARN from all over the world. This topic never ceases to move me.

I found the video interesting to watch as well on Youtube.

This is a video on Youtube of a story of someone who went through this who is reported in the Guardian article.

Where to support

Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network: CRARN

https://crarn.net/

https://pslcautism-ng.org/
Where to go for help 
I found official documentation online in the UK where this is raised the serious nature of it.
https://www.met.police.uk/advice/adv...h-based-abuse/

This article documents the recent number of cases-
https://www.local.gov.uk/publication...e-and-families

This is another article which explains about it more-
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a...aith-or-belief

The scale of the problem to UN reports

https://docs.un.org/en/A/HR/52/47

https://www.unicef.org/liberia/stories/unicef-and-partners-bring-hope-children-accused-witchcraft-liberia

https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/u130/u130627d

Articles and websites on this subject

https://www.thecable.ng/autism-not-the-devils-work-say-caregivers/ ( This article was the first one I read on this subject which moved me.

https://www.ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/107

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/24/thousands-of-children-england-falsely-accused-witchcraft-kindoki-witch-boy

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/commentisfree/2022/jun/08/witch-hunts-ritual-child-abuse-albinism-africa

Children are targets of Nigerian witch hunt

'Akwa Ibom Government React To Story On Child Witches'

Photos of starving 'witch' toddler in Nigeria lead to wave of donations - National | Globalnews.ca

Was she a 'witch' or autistic? Forfar historian Shaun on 'clear link' between witch trials and disability

How parents and teachers empower Nigeria's special needs children

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/19-may/features/features/autism-adventures-beyond-the-neurotypical