"The prevalence of the belief in child witchcraft in South-Eastern Nigeria can be linked to the books, movies and teachings of Helen Ukpabio. She has made a great deal of money by promoting this superstitious belief and seems willing to do anything to protect her interests. We call upon the Nigerian Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to act urgently to prevent Helen causing any further embarrassment to Nigeria’s reputation." Gary Foxcroft, Stepping Stones Nigeria
In South Africa Mpumalanga ANC MP Adrian Williams has accused the South African Pagan Rights Alliance of being arrogant in pursuing the reclamation of the terms Witch and Witchcraft.
William's often repeated insistence that self-defined Witches relinquish the terms 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft' stands in direct contradiction to the aims and objectives of those who already support the reclamation of these terms. Witchcraft is already an internationally recognised neo-Pagan religion and has been instrumental in the formation and development of modern Paganism in South Africa.
His insistence on persuading members of an already recognised religious minority to relinquish their right to continue to self-identify as Witches amounts, irrespective of his reason or lack thereof, to the promotion of an act of suppression of individual liberty and equality. He is of course entitled to his opinion. One must wonder whether, as a member of Mpumalanga's parliament, Williams will attempt to influence the Mpumalanga legislature to draft legislation against Witchcraft in the future?
In October 2007 Williams, after having relinquished his right to call himself a Witch at a conference of Witches in Melville, Johannesburg, swore to have the words 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft' banned in South Africa on more than one occassion.
"The PPA stands against any Pagan institution that places the reclamation of contentious English words ahead of all other rights and freedoms that Pagans in South Africa seek to gain. We oppose any group or person that refuses to compromise on this issue, because it may ultimately jeopardise the most important issues, namely, official recognition of Paganism as a religion and the granting of all other constitutional rights to Pagans."
Adrian Williams - Aims & Objectives 6. and 7. - Progressive Pagan Alliance Mission Statement (2007)
No man or woman should determine for another how that other should think or define themselves, their beliefs or religion. Every individual has the exclusive right to self-ownership.
When the right to self-identity is withheld from either individual or group, the right to dignity is denied. When the group identity is defamed individuals who share in that identity suffer a loss of dignity.
As a Witch, I will not relinquish my inalienable right to self-ownership, self-identification, self-definition and self-determination. To do so would indeed be an affront to my dignity, liberty and right to belief and religion. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. I will fight to keep that right.
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