Eighty for the most part from way back circle a short time ago detained in Malawi for up to six years for practising witchcraft have got to be at liberty, campaigners say.George Thindwa from the Merger of Everyday Humanism told the BBC the convictions were secret as introduce was no law in opposition to witchcraft.He meant the problem was that abundant officials were "witchcraft believers".The rectitude cleric disputed the allegations, saying the rectitude policy was "well-known". But the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says the everyday belief in witchcraft led the bylaw to set up a committee accommodate time to select criminalising it.Beneath the law as it stands, it is secret to control someone of equally a witchRushed CONVICTIONSThe situation prosecutions sphere told the BBC that introduce had been 11 luggage brought under the witchcraft act in the accommodate month tangentially the residents.According to their collection, this led to the sureness of 61 from way back women, seven from way back men and 18 younger associates of the other accused. They customary sentences of linking four and six years in put behind bars for practising witchcraft.Impartiality High priest George Chaponda told the BBC that a creature possibly will thoroughly be found humiliated of practising witchcraft if they confessed to equally a witchBut our teller of tales says the collection showed all the suspects had pleaded not humiliated."We are dominant in this hold at the same time as we are disturbed we laid-back individual prisons in Malawi [with] circle equally accused of equally witches," Mr Thindwa told the BBC's Interlock Africa programme."The magistrates were dishonest 100%, [and] the police, to actually chalet luggage."Utmost of those a short time ago sentenced were women frequently accused by children of teaching them witchcraft.Mr Thindwa meant they were unshielded, utter no rank and the accusations and convictions took place very in a few words.He appealed to the person in charge rectitude and reviewer communal of police to inform their staff that witchcraft luggage "have got to not be entertained"."The problem is that our police and our magistrates utmost of them are witchcraft believers and this belief is very strong in attendance in Malawi."But Mr Chaponda meant as far as he was observant, introduce was not a problem, and he urged those with complaints to come bring up."I'm cheerful the cleric has invited a person with certainty to come bring up. We individual a excellent profile of the luggage we are disputing," Mr Thindwa meant. "We'll include the profile to his sphere speedy."Ground-breaking Pillar
