[AA.TR] At least 115 people, majority of whom are women have been killed in Tanzania since January for allegedly practising witchcraft, according to a human rights...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
group based in Dar es Salaam.
In a report released Monday, the Legal and Human Rights Centre said 79 women were killed, mostly by violent mobs in the country after they were accused of being witches, often on the flimsy pretext of them having "red eyes".
The human rights group said the eyes of the women most likely turn red from smoke in their kitchens during cooking, which some members of their community perceive as a sign of being witches.
The report also highlighted the fact that most of these women were middle aged or elderly.
Deep-rooted beliefs in witchcraft and other traditions that condone gender-based violence, and erosion of respect for old people have for decades triggered vicious attacks against women in the east African nation, according to rights’ campaigners.
Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, the center’s executive director, said: "This report shows gross violation of citizens’ rights, especially the right to live. It also shows gross violation of women and kiddies rights."