The Wild Hunt » persecutions

Exporting Anti-Witch Hysteria?

Jason — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:20:00 +0000

There has been a debate within modern Paganism, specifically within the various Witchcraft and Wiccan traditions, over whether the issue of persecutions and killings of “witches” in places like Africa, India, and the Middle East is a “Pagan” issue. While some correctly note that these alleged “witches” are often not associated with any Pagan or pre-Christian religion, others, like Phyllis Curott, argue that we are bound by a common label.

“I don’t think that Fawza was practicing anything resembling what most of us now call Wicca and Witchcraft. If she was doing anything, which is not clear, it may have been some kind of old traditional folk magic. It doesn’t matter – she is sentenced to die by beheading for Witchcraft. That is the word many of us use to identify ourselves. That word means that she is a member of our community. And we are not a community if we don’t take care of each other. We may not be able to save Fawza, but we must try.”

This view has been echoed by modern Pagans in India and South Africa, who have seen an all-to-real connection between the persecution of “witches” and the rights and freedoms of modern Pagans living near them. But can the problems of “over there” impact those of us living in the West? Mary Leland, writing for the Irish Independent News, argues that the anti-witch fanaticisms of “over there” may be finding a new home among us.

“In this case it was the revelation that the guest speaker was a man representing a church in Dublin which advertised among its services a protection against witchcraft. The chat diverted into such issues as whether alternative therapies such as Reiki or yoga or hypnosis could be considered contrary to biblical strictures … before occasionally hitting on the immediacy of superstition among, in this case, largely African congregations. Whatever else many of our African immigrants may have brought with them to Ireland, they have included a belief in witches, seen as an active threat to the well-being of families and communities … Christianity may have outgrown that horrible idea by now, but not before exporting it, with evangelistic missionaries, to Africa. It’s not easy either for a woman to listen to any debate about witches and witchcraft without remembering that it was women who were accused, tortured and executed in their thousands over several centuries.”

Leaving aside issues of tensions over immigration and possible xenophobia, can immigrants from countries known to persecute so-called practitioners of “witchcraft” bring with them the hysteria that has destroyed so many lives? Some are saying it is already here, with suspicious deaths and child abuse linked with a fear of malicious magic and witchcraft among immigrant communities in the UK. Leland worries that those offering immigrant communities in Ireland “protection from witchcraft” could eventually spark a larger witch hysteria.

“To hear that witchcraft is on the religious agenda of an African church in Dublin is to feel some alarm at the possibility that this tradition of evil-seeking has been re-introduced to Ireland. Of course we have to be racially and religiously sensitive to cultural differences, but the fanaticism of this particular cultural difference, and the brutality with which its victims are treated, must not be ignored, even on a radio chat show.”

Is it possible that the witch persecutions we read about in the paper could come to us? Could cultural misunderstandings and tensions among various communities result in violence and harassment towards modern Pagans? While debates will continue regarding whether the persecution and killing of “witches” in distant lands is “our” issue, we may soon find ourselves having to contemplate the problem much closer to home.

Update: SIGIR’s Wiccan Scandal

Jason — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:56:00 +0000

After two years of investigations, Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, and his deputy, Ginger Cruz, have been cleared of fraud and abuse charges that were lodged by former employees of the watchdog organization.

Ginger Cruz

“On July 3, federal prosecutors alerted the office of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen that a grand jury declined to indict him or deputy Ginger Cruz. Last week, on July 9, the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency similarly cleared him and Cruz of any administrative charges stemming from the accusations. The executive branch council was created to investigate allegations of misconduct by inspectors general at federal agencies … “I always had faith that we’d be cleared of the allegations,” Cruz said in an interview Wednesday. “We knew there was no basis to them.” Cruz described the investigations dating back to 2006 as “very thorough.” She said it combed through all of her e-mail, and multiple people were interviewed for it.”

This story first came to my attention in December of last year, after accusations against Cruz claimed that she was a Wiccan who sexually harassed her co-workers, and threatened to cast spells on those who crossed her.

“Cruz reportedly told employees that she was a Wiccan who could cast spells on people, and said she preferred hiring young “hunks” to work in the office. She is also accused of propositioning junior employees in a crude fashion, once even proposing a threesome.”

Cruz has all along denied any wrongdoing, and that the accusations of witchcraft were “ludicrous”. I felt that the emphasis on witchcraft and sexual improprieties seemed suspicious. Almost stereotypical.

“…it seems strange to me that “hexes” and her Wiccan religion were mentioned at all. Could it be that Cruz was simply too open with her religious preferences in an all-too-Christian military environment? Leaving aside the charges of cooking the books, doesn’t it seem a bit too convenient (almost stereotypical in a male-fantasy sort of way) that the the young female Witch would go around propositioning three-ways with men and claiming to put hexes on people (no doubt on men who would refuse her sexual wiles)?”

Whether Cruz was indeed a Wiccan, or simply a woman branded “witch” in an often sexist and overtly Christian military will most likely never be known. Whatever the truth, this represents not only a vindication for Cruz, who can now put this painful time behind her, but a victory for religious minorities and Pagans working for the government. Perhaps more Pagans working in the military and in governmental positions can come out of the “broom closet” knowing that slanders of malicious spellwork, or lascivious behavior, will not stand up to scrutiny.

Update: SIGIR’s Wiccan Scandal

Jason — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Government official (and alleged Wiccan) Ginger Cruz is in the news again. A deputy of Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), Cruz had been accused of sexually harassing co-workers, cooking the books, and threatening hexes on those who crossed her.

Ginger Cruz

“Current and former SIGIR employees have told investigators that Cruz threatened to put hexes on employees and made inappropriate sexual remarks in the presence of staff members. Cruz is a self-described wiccan, a member of a polytheistic religion of modern witchcraft…”

While a grand jury investigation into these claims did not produce any indictments, a new grand jury investigation is underway to see if Cruz and Bowen improperly read staff e-mails.

“In 2007, after the Army ruling [against e-mail monitoring], Bowen and Cruz continued to monitor staff e-mails, according to SIGIR employees at the time. At one point, Cruz held a stack of papers in her hand and claimed they were e-mails of a senior employee, one official said. Staff members also said that Cruz bragged to senior staffers in early 2006 about reading workers’ e-mails and in one case shared e-mails from one employee.”

According to Bowen’s attorney, Bradford A. Berenson, the reading of staff e-mails was a part of established SIGIR policy that staff had been made aware of.

“…as part of an authorized internal investigation into possible press leaks. SIGIR policy permits such e-mail reviews and all employees are notified, regularly reminded and trained on these policies.”

Ginger Cruz maintains she is the victim of a smear campaign by former employees, and that she isn’t a Witch.

“A previous article in the Post quoted unnamed sources and employees who claimed Cruz was a “witch”, allegations that she vehemently denies, calling the allegations “ludicrous”.”

So, is Cruz an innocent victim caught up in a vendetta by former employees? Did she ever truly consider herself a Wiccan, or is she now disavowing the faith under political and social pressures? It seems odd that people would invent Wiccan allegiance for Cruz, did they think it would strengthen claims of sexual harassment? It should be noted that her disavowal of Witchcraft is recent, and appeared in a local Guam (her native land) television station web site.

Whatever the eventual outcome of this latest grand jury hearing, it is comforting to know that no indictment was handed down relating to claims of “hexing” or “witchcraft”. Perhaps we can avoid the slippery slope to “spectral evidence” for awhile longer. As for Cruz, whether Wiccan or not, it is clear that the press jumped at the chance to sensationalize claims of magical malfeasance, almost to the point of overshadowing the more serious claims of fraud. If this was a smear campaign, it looks like cries of “witch” worked just fine. Perhaps next time claims of “witchcraft” will be met with a bit more skepticism by reporters.

SIGIR’s Wiccan Scandal

Jason — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:42:00 +0000

I never thought I would have to type these words, but a government fraud scandal is gaining press for the (alleged) involvement of a modern Pagan. Wiccan Ginger Cruz, a deputy of Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), is being accused of sexual harassment, cooking the books, and threating co-workers with hexes.

“Cruz, a former spokeswoman for the governor of Guam, originally joined SIGIR as a contractor working for the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Current and former SIGIR employees have told investigators that Cruz threatened to put hexes on employees and made inappropriate sexual remarks in the presence of staff members. Cruz is a self-described wiccan, a member of a polytheistic religion of modern witchcraft. “We warned Ginger not to talk about witchcraft, that it would scare people,” a former SIGIR employee said.”

Ginger Cruz

From Harpers:

“Among the charges is that Cruz pressured an employee to come up with bogus numbers proving that SIGIR’s work had saved taxpayers some $10 billion, a figure that was used to justify the agency’s request of $30 million in the Fiscal Year 2007 budget. The true savings were said to be only in the tens of millions at best … Cruz reportedly told employees that she was a Wiccan who could cast spells on people, and said she preferred hiring young “hunks” to work in the office. She is also accused of propositioning junior employees in a crude fashion, once even proposing a threesome.”

The question now is how true are these allegations? According to Wonkette, Bowen’s office has been leaking rumors that the investigation is a retaliation for his office rooting out fraud and abuse in Iraq, while Cruz has denied the allegations made against her.

“Cruz denied making comments of a “sexual nature” and noted that she was cleared of wrongdoing by an internal SIGIR investigation.”

Obviously Cruz could be lying, and SIGIR’s investigation into her alleged wrongdoing could be an exercise in sweeping things under the rug, but it seems strange to me that “hexes” and her Wiccan religion were mentioned at all. Could it be that Cruz was simply too open with her religious preferences in an all-too-Christian military environment? Leaving aside the charges of cooking the books, doesn’t it seem a bit too convenient (almost stereotypical in a male-fantasy sort of way) that the the young female Witch would go around propositioning three-ways with men and claiming to put hexes on people (no doubt on men who would refuse her sexual wiles)?

It certainly has become a dominant theme of the story. Boing Boing mentions it, and Wonkette has posted a video of Cruz with over-dubbed “sexy” porno music playing in the background. Almost no-one is entertaining the possibility that Cruz is being smeared by those eager to see her removed from office. It does a wonderful job of deflecting attention from the real issues of this investigation (and the issue of fraud in Iraq’s reconstruction). Is this how you “burn a Witch” while “ducking” charges of malfeasance?

A Canadian Witch-Hunt?

Jason — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:54:00 +0000

A family in Halifax have been threatened, and their friends beaten and stabbed, reportedly because they are Witches. According to Shauna Cook, locals in her neighborhood have targeted her for harassment because of her appearance and beliefs, this came to a head on Saturday when two acquaintances leaving her house were attacked by six youths. One was stabbed in the back, the other hit with a thrown rock.

Shauna Cook with one of her children.

“Shortly after midnight on Saturday, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were leaving Cook’s house to catch the bus when they were approached by four male teenagers, who asked the pair where they were going. After saying they were going home, the boy was attacked. Two more people jumped into the fight, making it six attackers in all. The young woman ran back to Cook’s house and tried to phone police. While on the phone, one of the attackers threw a rock through a window and hit her in the forehead. Meanwhile, the 17-year old boy was being beaten and stabbed in the back before he made it back to the house himself. The attackers then fled. The attack came weeks after Cook’s family was swarmed by bat-wielding assailants.”

Adding more complexity to this case is the fact that the alleged harassers and attackers are all black, and accused Cook of being a white supremacist, a claim that Cook denies.

“Cook says she has no doubt her friends were attacked partly because she is a hedge-witch. She explains her religion as a more traditional form of wicca. She says her neighbors don’t understand her religion and call her a white supremacist, which she says is simply not true. “I stand out like a sore thumb,” Cook said, adding her black clothes and the cloaks she occasionally wears, not to mention her grammatically correct English, makes her different. The latest bout of anti-witch violence has her moving her kids to the Annapolis Valley to be with her mother.”

Sadly the article doesn’t go into any more depth and try to interview her neighbors or former business associates in the community to see if religious prejudices were indeed the motivating factor. But religiously motivated or not, it is clear that this sort of violence is indefensible and should be prosecuted to the fullest measure. Until we get more answers, we will have to wonder if Halifax truly isn’t safe for Witches.

ADDENDUM: A friend and associate of Shauna Cook reveals more details of the attack:

“For the record, of the six individuals, at least 2 were white. They have not been named yet due to fear of retaliation. Therefore, this is not a case of blacks against whites … Ms. Cook does not have any dealings with her neighbors. She doesn’t throw slurs or insults. Her children don’t associate with the attackers. And yet, the year this family spent in this particular neighborhood has been tense- for lack of a better word.”

So perhaps this really is about her being a Witch.

Religion and Law

Jason — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:21:00 +0000

The excellent blog “Religion Clause”, which focuses on legal developments concerning religion, has posted two stories today that should be of special interest to modern Pagans (and other minority faiths). The first concerns the release of transcripts from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom about the precarious status of minority religions in post-Saddam Iraq.

“This year the Commission added Iraq to its Watch List of countries requiring close monitoring because of the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by their governments. We made the decision because of the alarming and deteriorating religious freedom conditions for all Iraqis … influencing our decision to place Iraq on our Watch List are the grave conditions affecting minority religious groups in Iraq, including the ChaldoAssyrian Christians, Yazidis, and Sabean Mandaeans. These groups appear to suffer a degree of attacks and other human rights abuses disproportionate to their numbers. As a result, thousands of members of Iraqi religious minorities have fled the country, seeking refuge in neighboring states and among growing Diaspora communities in the West.”

Of the three groups pointed out in this hearing, two have ties to gnostic or pre-Christian beliefs and practice. The Sabean Mandaeans are a dualistic gnostic sect that considers John the Baptist to be their primary prophet, while the Yazidi are adherents to a pre-Islamic faith who revere “The Peacock Angel” Melek Taus. Both are facing extreme persecution, kidnappings, rapes, murders, and the very real possibility of elimination from Iraq.

“More than 80% of the Mandaean community has been displaced from Iraq to Syria and Jordan. The Mandaean community has dwindled to less than five (5) thousands today.”

Several recommendations were given by those giving testimony, but it remains to be seen if the already over-stressed military presence in Iraq will be able to make any substantive changes in conditions. Perhaps America can relax its immigration policy for persecuted groups within Iraq, taking in those who have no place to go.

The second story concerns the passing of a bill through both houses that enacts several recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Included in that bill is something known as the “John Doe Amendment” which protects people tipping off the authorities to potential terror suspects from litigation if their suspicions turn out to be unfounded.

“Any person who, in good faith and based on objectively reasonable suspicion, makes or causes to be made, a voluntary report of covered activity to an authorized official shall be immune from civil liability under federal, state and local law for such report.”

What are “objective” and “reasonable” suspicions? According to the case that inspired this amendment it includes dressing like a Muslim, praying publicly, and requesting seat-belt extensions. One can only imagine how this new legal immunity will be used by those not truly acting in “good faith”, or by those who see terrorists in anyone not dressing or acting like them. If you have been wearing ritual garb at the airport in the past, you might want to think twice about doing it in the future.